Relative Pronouns: que, quem in Portuguese

Overview

Relative Pronouns: que, quem (Pronomes Relativos: que, quem) is a elementary (CEFR A2) topic in Portuguese grammar. Basic relative pronouns: que (who/which/that - most common), quem (who - for people, after prepositions). Que is invariable.

Understanding relative pronouns: que, quem is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A2 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering relative pronouns: que, quem will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Basic relative pronouns: que (who/which/that - most common), quem (who - for people, after prepositions). Que is invariable.

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
O homem que fala é o meu pai.	The man who is speaking is my father.
O livro que estou a ler é bom.	The book that I'm reading is good.
A pessoa com quem falei.	The person with whom I spoke.
Os estudantes que vieram.	The students who came.
A escola em que estudo.	The school where I study.
Tudo o que sei.	Everything I know.
O senhor a quem escrevi.	The man to whom I wrote.
Nao sei quem e.	I do not know who.
Quem disse isso?	Who said that?

Common Mistakes

Wrong pronoun placement

• Wrong: Placing the pronoun in the wrong position relative to the verb
• Right: Follow Portuguese pronoun placement rules (which differ between BR and PT)
• Why: Pronoun position in Portuguese follows complex rules that differ between variants.

Confusing direct and indirect pronoun forms

• Wrong: Using a direct object pronoun where an indirect one is needed
• Right: Identify whether the pronoun replaces a direct or indirect object
• Why: Third-person pronouns differ between direct (o/a) and indirect (lhe) functions.

Forgetting pronoun-verb contractions

• Wrong: Not adjusting the pronoun form after certain verb endings
• Right: Apply the required changes: o becomes lo after -r, no after nasals
• Why: Portuguese has mandatory phonological adjustments when pronouns attach to verbs.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A2 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, relative pronouns: que, quem is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice relative pronouns: que, quem with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using relative pronouns: que, quem and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Subject Pronouns -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for relative pronouns: que, quem
• Next steps: Relative Pronouns: onde, cujo -- builds on relative pronouns: que, quem concepts