Qué vs. Que: Mastering the Nuances of ‘What’ and ‘That’ in Spanish

Understanding the difference between qué and que is crucial for anyone learning Spanish. These two words, though similar in appearance, serve entirely different functions and can drastically alter the meaning of a sentence. Mastering their usage is essential for both comprehension and accurate communication. This comprehensive guide will break down the intricacies of qué and que, providing clear explanations, examples, and practice exercises to help you confidently navigate these common yet often confusing words.

This article is designed for Spanish learners of all levels, from beginners who are just starting to grasp the basics to more advanced students who want to refine their understanding of grammar. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of when to use qué and when to use que, allowing you to communicate more effectively and avoid common mistakes.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definitions of Qué and Que
   • Definition of Qué
   • Definition of Que
3. Structural Breakdown
   • Structure of Qué
   • Structure of Que
4. Types and Categories
   • Types of Qué
   • Types of Que
5. Examples
   • Examples of Qué
   • Examples of Que
6. Usage Rules
   • Rules for Using Qué
   • Rules for Using Que
7. Common Mistakes
8. Practice Exercises
   • Exercise 1: Choose Qué or Que
   • Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
9. Advanced Topics
   • Advanced Usage of Qué
   • Advanced Usage of Que
10. FAQ
11. Conclusion

Definitions of Qué and Que

The distinction between qué and que lies primarily in their function within a sentence. Qué, with an accent mark, is typically used in questions and exclamations, acting as an interrogative or exclamatory pronoun or adjective. Que, without an accent mark, serves as a relative pronoun or a conjunction, connecting clauses or introducing relative clauses.

Definition of Qué

Qué is an interrogative or exclamatory word. As an interrogative, it asks a question. As an exclamatory, it expresses surprise, admiration, or another strong emotion. It can function as a pronoun, meaning “what,” or as an adjective, meaning “which” or “what kind of.” The presence of the accent mark (´) is crucial in distinguishing it from que.

When used as an interrogative pronoun, qué replaces a noun and directly asks for information about that noun. When used as an interrogative adjective, it modifies a noun, asking for specific details about that noun.

Definition of Que

Que is a relative pronoun or a conjunction. As a relative pronoun, it connects a relative clause to a main clause, referring back to a noun or pronoun already mentioned. As a conjunction, it links two clauses together, often expressing cause, condition, or purpose. Unlike qué, que never carries an accent mark.

As a relative pronoun, que often translates to “that,” “which,” or “who” in English. As a conjunction, it has a variety of translations depending on the context, such as “that,” “than,” or “because.” Understanding its role as a connector is key to mastering its usage.

Structural Breakdown

Understanding the structural roles of qué and que within a sentence is essential for using them correctly. Qué typically appears at the beginning of a question or exclamation, while que often appears within a sentence to connect clauses or introduce relative clauses.

Structure of Qué

Qué usually appears at the beginning of interrogative and exclamatory sentences. In interrogative sentences, it is often followed by a verb. In exclamatory sentences, it is used to emphasize a quality or characteristic.

Interrogative Structure: Qué + verb + subject + …? (e.g., ¿Qué quieres? – What do you want?)
Exclamatory Structure: ¡Qué + adjective/noun + …! (e.g., ¡Qué bonito! – How beautiful!)

Structure of Que

Que typically appears within a sentence, connecting clauses or introducing relative clauses. As a relative pronoun, it follows the noun or pronoun it refers to. As a conjunction, it links two independent clauses.

Relative Pronoun Structure: Noun/Pronoun + que + verb + … (e.g., El libro que compré – The book that I bought)
Conjunction Structure: Clause 1 + que + Clause 2 (e.g., Pienso que es bueno – I think that it is good)

Types and Categories

Both qué and que can be further categorized based on their specific function within a sentence. Understanding these categories will help you identify the correct usage in different contexts.

Types of Qué

Qué can be categorized as either an interrogative pronoun, an interrogative adjective, an exclamatory pronoun, or an exclamatory adjective. Each type serves a slightly different purpose in posing questions or expressing exclamations.

• Interrogative Pronoun: Asks a direct question about a noun (e.g., ¿Qué es esto? – What is this?)
• Interrogative Adjective: Modifies a noun in a question (e.g., ¿Qué libro lees? – Which book are you reading?)
• Exclamatory Pronoun: Expresses surprise or admiration about a noun (e.g., ¡Qué dices! – What are you saying!)
• Exclamatory Adjective: Modifies a noun in an exclamation (e.g., ¡Qué día tan bonito! – What a beautiful day!)

Types of Que

Que can be categorized as either a relative pronoun or a conjunction. As a relative pronoun, it introduces relative clauses. As a conjunction, it connects clauses, expressing various relationships between them.

• Relative Pronoun: Introduces a relative clause, referring back to a noun (e.g., La casa que vimos – The house that we saw)
• Conjunction: Connects clauses, expressing cause, purpose, or comparison (e.g., Lo hice porque quise – I did it because I wanted to)

Examples

To solidify your understanding, let’s explore a variety of examples showcasing the different uses of qué and que. These examples are categorized to illustrate their specific functions.

Examples of Qué

The following table provides examples of qué used in different contexts, including interrogative and exclamatory sentences, and as both pronouns and adjectives.

Type	Spanish Example	English Translation
Interrogative Pronoun	¿Qué quieres?	What do you want?
Interrogative Pronoun	¿Qué es esto?	What is this?
Interrogative Pronoun	¿Qué pasó?	What happened?
Interrogative Pronoun	¿Qué dijiste?	What did you say?
Interrogative Pronoun	¿Qué te gusta?	What do you like?
Interrogative Adjective	¿Qué libro lees?	Which book are you reading?
Interrogative Adjective	¿Qué coche prefieres?	Which car do you prefer?
Interrogative Adjective	¿Qué hora es?	What time is it?
Interrogative Adjective	¿Qué día es hoy?	What day is today?
Interrogative Adjective	¿Qué tipo de música te gusta?	What kind of music do you like?
Exclamatory Pronoun	¡Qué dices!	What are you saying!
Exclamatory Pronoun	¡Qué barbaridad!	How awful! / What nonsense!
Exclamatory Pronoun	¡Qué susto me diste!	What a fright you gave me!
Exclamatory Pronoun	¡Qué sorpresa!	What a surprise!
Exclamatory Pronoun	¡Qué asco!	How disgusting!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué día tan bonito!	What a beautiful day!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué casa más grande!	What a big house!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué rápido corre!	How fast he runs!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué inteligente eres!	How intelligent you are!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué bien cantas!	How well you sing!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué caro es!	How expensive it is!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué interesante!	How interesting!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué divertido!	How fun!
Exclamatory Adjective	¡Qué lejos vives!	How far you live!

Examples of Que

The following table provides examples of que used as a relative pronoun and as a conjunction, illustrating its role in connecting clauses and introducing relative clauses.

Type	Spanish Example	English Translation
Relative Pronoun	El libro que compré es muy interesante.	The book that I bought is very interesting.
Relative Pronoun	La persona que llama es mi hermana.	The person who is calling is my sister.
Relative Pronoun	La casa que ves allí es mía.	The house that you see there is mine.
Relative Pronoun	El coche que necesito es rojo.	The car that I need is red.
Relative Pronoun	Los amigos que tengo son muy importantes.	The friends that I have are very important.
Conjunction	Pienso que es una buena idea.	I think that it is a good idea.
Conjunction	Dijo que vendría mañana.	He said that he would come tomorrow.
Conjunction	Es importante que estudies.	It is important that you study.
Conjunction	Lo hago porque quiero.	I do it because I want to.
Conjunction	Más vale tarde que nunca.	Better late than never.
Conjunction	Tengo más libros que tú.	I have more books than you.
Conjunction	No creo que sea verdad.	I don’t think it’s true.
Conjunction	Espero que te guste.	I hope you like it.
Conjunction	Para que entiendas, te lo explicaré de nuevo.	So that you understand, I will explain it again.
Conjunction	Aunque llueva, iré.	Even if it rains, I will go.
Conjunction	Quiero que seas feliz.	I want you to be happy.
Conjunction	Después que comamos, saldremos.	After we eat, we will go out.
Conjunction	Antes que nada, gracias.	First of all, thank you.
Conjunction	En cuanto que pueda, te ayudaré.	As soon as I can, I will help you.
Conjunction	Siempre que vengas, serás bienvenido.	Whenever you come, you will be welcome.

Consider these additional examples to observe the usage of ‘que’ as a relative pronoun. Note how ‘que’ refers back to a noun previously mentioned in the sentence.

Type	Spanish Example	English Translation
Relative Pronoun	El hombre que viste ayer es mi padre.	The man that you saw yesterday is my father.
Relative Pronoun	La película que me recomendaste fue genial.	The movie that you recommended to me was great.
Relative Pronoun	El restaurante que visitamos tiene buena comida.	The restaurant that we visited has good food.
Relative Pronoun	El problema que tenemos es complicado.	The problem that we have is complicated.
Relative Pronoun	Las flores que compraste son hermosas.	The flowers that you bought are beautiful.
Relative Pronoun	El idioma que aprendo es el español.	The language that I’m learning is Spanish.
Relative Pronoun	La canción que escuchamos es muy popular.	The song that we are listening to is very popular.
Relative Pronoun	La ciudad que visitaremos es Barcelona.	The city that we will visit is Barcelona.
Relative Pronoun	El trabajo que hago es interesante.	The job that I do is interesting.
Relative Pronoun	La pregunta que hiciste es muy difícil.	The question that you asked is very difficult.

Usage Rules

Understanding the specific rules for using qué and que is crucial for avoiding errors. These rules govern when each word is appropriate and how they function within a sentence.

Rules for Using Qué

Rule 1: Use qué in direct questions to ask for information about something.
Rule 2: Use qué in exclamatory sentences to express strong emotions or surprise.
Rule 3: Qué always carries an accent mark (´) to distinguish it from que.
Rule 4: Qué can function as a pronoun (what) or an adjective (which, what kind of).

Consider these additional rules;
Rule 5: When used as an adjective, qué precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., ¿Qué libro? – Which book?).
Rule 6: When used as a pronoun, qué can stand alone or be followed by a verb (e.g., ¿Qué es? – What is it?).

Rules for Using Que

Rule 1: Use que as a relative pronoun to connect a relative clause to a main clause.
Rule 2: Use que as a conjunction to link two clauses together, expressing cause, condition, or purpose.
Rule 3: Que never carries an accent mark.
Rule 4: Que can often be translated as “that,” “which,” or “who” (as a relative pronoun) or “that,” “than,” or “because” (as a conjunction).

Consider these additional rules;
Rule 5: When used as a relative pronoun, que follows the noun or pronoun it refers to (e.g., El libro que leí – The book that I read).
Rule 6: When used as a conjunction, que links two independent clauses (e.g., Pienso que es verdad – I think that it is true).

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes is confusing qué and que. For example, using que in a question or exclamation, or using qué as a relative pronoun or conjunction. Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Que quieres?	¿Qué quieres?	Qué is needed in a question.
¡Que bonito!	¡Qué bonito!	Qué is needed in an exclamation.
El libro qué compré.	El libro que compré.	Que is needed as a relative pronoun.
Pienso qué es bueno.	Pienso que es bueno.	Que is needed as a conjunction.
¿Que hora es?	¿Qué hora es?	Qué is needed as an interrogative adjective.
La razón qué te llamé.	La razón que te llamé.	Que is needed to introduce a relative clause.
¡Que alegría verte!	¡Qué alegría verte!	Qué is needed to express an exclamation.
No sabía que pasó.	No sabía qué pasó.	Qué is needed in an embedded question.
El problema que tenemos, no sé.	El problema que tenemos, no lo sé.	Adding the ‘lo’ makes the sentence grammatically correct.
Que dices?	¿Qué dices?	Qué is needed in an interrogative sentence.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Choose the correct word, qué or que, to complete each sentence.

Exercise 1: Choose Qué or Que

Select the correct word (qué or que) for each sentence.

Question	Answer
1. ¿___ quieres comer?	Qué
2. Pienso ___ es una buena idea.	Que
3. ¡___ bonito es este lugar!	Qué
4. El libro ___ leí fue muy interesante.	Que
5. ¿___ hora es?	Qué
6. Dijo ___ vendría mañana.	Que
7. ¡___ sorpresa!	Qué
8. La casa ___ ves allí es mía.	Que
9. ¿___ haces?	Qué
10. Es importante ___ estudies.	Que

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with either qué or que based on the context of the sentence.

Question	Answer
1. No sé ___ decir.	Qué
2. Me dijo ___ no podía venir.	Que
3. ¡___ grande es tu coche!	Qué
4. La película ___ vimos ayer fue aburrida.	Que
5. ¿___ te parece?	Qué
6. Quiero ___ me escuches.	Que
7. ¡___ difícil es este ejercicio!	Qué
8. El hombre ___ está hablando es mi profesor.	Que
9. ¿___ quieres para tu cumpleaños?	Qué
10. No creo ___ sea posible.	Que

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, there are more nuanced uses of qué and que that can further enhance your understanding and fluency.

Advanced Usage of Qué

In advanced Spanish, qué can be used in more complex exclamatory structures and idiomatic expressions. Understanding these nuances can help you express yourself more naturally.

Example 1: ¡A saber qué! – Who knows what!
Example 2: ¡Qué sé yo! – What do I know! / How should I know!

Advanced Usage of Que

Que can also be used in more complex sentence structures, such as with subjunctive clauses and in certain idiomatic expressions. Mastering these usages requires a deeper understanding of Spanish grammar.

Example 1: Es necesario que vengas. – It is necessary that you come. (Subjunctive)
Example 2: Hay que hacerlo. – It is necessary to do it. (Idiomatic expression)

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about qué and que to further clarify their usage.

1. Q: How can I easily remember the difference between qué and que?

   A: Remember that qué always has an accent mark and is used in questions and exclamations. If you are asking a question or expressing surprise, use qué. If you are connecting clauses or introducing a relative clause, use que.

2. Q: Can que ever be omitted from a sentence?

   A: In some informal contexts, the que conjunction can be omitted, but it’s generally safer to include it, especially in formal writing. Omitting it can sometimes change the meaning or make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

3. Q: Is there a difference in pronunciation between qué and que?

   A: No, the pronunciation is the same. The difference is only in the written form and their grammatical function.

4. Q: Can que be used at the beginning of a sentence?

   A: While it’s less common, que can appear at the beginning of a sentence in certain constructions, especially in exclamations or when expressing a wish. For example: ¡Que te mejores! (Get well soon!).

5. Q: How do I know when que is a relative pronoun and when it’s a conjunction?

   A: If que follows a noun or pronoun and introduces a clause that describes that noun or pronoun, it’s a relative pronoun. If it connects two independent clauses, it’s a conjunction.

6. Q: Are there any regional differences in the usage of qué and que?

   A: While the fundamental rules remain the same across Spanish-speaking regions, there might be slight variations in idiomatic expressions or preferred constructions. However, the core grammar rules are universally applicable.

7. Q: Is “de que” the same as “que”?

   A: No, “de que” is not the same as “que”. “De que” is used after certain verbs, nouns, and adjectives that require the preposition “de”. For example, “Estoy seguro *de que* va a llover”. “Que” is used as a relative pronoun or conjunction.

8. Q: Can “qué” be used with prepositions?

   A: Yes, “qué” can be used with prepositions. The preposition usually comes before “qué” in interrogative sentences. For example, “¿*De qué* estás hablando?” (What are you talking about?).

Conclusion

Mastering the distinction between qué and que is a fundamental step in achieving fluency in Spanish. By understanding their different functions as interrogative/exclamatory words and relative pronouns/conjunctions, you can significantly improve your accuracy and confidence in both speaking and writing.

Remember to focus on the context of the sentence and the presence or absence of the accent mark. Practice regularly with the examples and exercises provided, and don’t hesitate to seek out further resources to deepen your understanding. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to confidently navigate the nuances of qué and que and communicate effectively in Spanish.