Interrogative Pronouns and Adjectives
More on Interrogative Adjectives
Interrogative pronouns are the same as the relative pronouns, only they are written with an accent:
- ¿Quién,-es? (who, whom?)
- ¿Cuál,-es? (which?)
- ¿Qué? (what?)
- ¿Cúyo,-a,-os,-as? (whose?)
- ¿De quién,-es[1]? (whose?)
- ¿Cuánto,-a,-os,-as? (how much, how many?)
Footnote 1: "De quién" is more usual than "Cúyo" when asking questions.
Cuál when interrogative is used without the definite article which must accompany it when it is a relative pronoun. Quién, interrogative, is never an adjective. Let's look at a few examples:
- ¿Quién vino a verme?
Who came to see me? - ¿Cuál arreglo le gusta a usted?
Which arrangement do you prefer? - ¿Cúyo es este lápiz?
Whose is this pencil? - ¿De quién es este lápiz?
Whose pencil is this? - ¿De quién recibió usted la consignación de madera?
From whom did you receive the consignment of timber? - ¿A quiénes nos refieren ustedes para informes?
To whom do you refer us for information? - ¿Cuánto me cobrará?
How much will you charge me?
Cuál (which) is often used instead of the English "what", as:
- ¿Cuáles son sus intenciones?
What are your intentions?
Qué is used in exclamatory sentences--"what a", as:
- ¡Qué lástima!
What a pity! - ¡Qué bonitos angelitos!
What nice little angels![2]
Footnote 2: Before an adjective without a noun following "qué" translates the English "how":--¡Qué bonito! how nice!]
An emphatic tan or más may be inserted, thus:
- ¡Qué paño tan bonito!
What a very nice suiting! - ¡Qué hombre más rico!
What a very rich man!
Cuál is used in exclamatory clauses instead of cómo (how), as:
- ¡Cuál le han reducido las desgracias!
How (to what a state) misfortunes have reduced him! - ¡Cuál la ví!
How (in what a state) did I see her!
Cuánto is also used in exclamations, as:
- ¡Cuánto le agradezco su amabilidad!
How much obliged I am for your kindness!
Cual without article and without accent is used for "as," as:
- Una casa (tal) cual yo la deseaba.
A house (such) as I liked.
Such expressions as "He wrote me a letter, which letter I still possess," are translated:
Me escribió una carta, cuya carta aun tengo.
