In this Spanish grammar lesson, you will learn about how to use el que/la que/los que/las que
In this lesson you will learn about:
- how to use el que/la que/los que/las que
- how el que/la que/los que/las que/ are used in sentences
- how you can quiz yourself on how to use el que/la que/los que/las que
- how you can practice with flashcards on how to use el que/la que/los que/las que
- how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn Spanish
By the end of the lesson you will know all about how to use el que/la que/los que/las que!
Table of Contents
El Que/La Que/Los Que/Las Que Table
| Masculine | Feminine | |
| Singular | el que | la que |
| Plural | los que | las que |
El Que/La Que/Los Que/Las Que = Who/That/The One/The Ones
You can use el que/la que/los que/las que to refer to people and things.
It can mean “who”, “that”, “the one”, or “the ones”.
There are three ways in which el que and its variations are used:
- without an antecedent
- with an antecedent
- with an antecendent and commas
The antecedent is the thing or person that you are referring to.
Using El Que/La Que/Los Que/Las Que Without an Antecedent
Have a look at these sentences:
El que lleva pantalones oscuros es mi hijo.
The one wearing dark trousers is my son.
La que sonó antes es mi canción favorita.
The one that was played before is my favourite song.
Las que están hablando allí parecen extranjeras.
The ones talking there look like foreigners.
Although the antecedent is not explicitly mentioned in the sentences, it is clear from the context who or what you are referring to.
In the first sentence “el que” refers to a boy.
In the second sentence, “la que” refers to a specific song.
In the third sentence, “las que” refers to a people.
These antecedents were most likely mentioned before in a conversation.
Using El Que/La Que/Los Que/Las Que With an Antecedent
Have a look at these sentences:
El regalo que me hiciste es el que más me ha gustado.
The gift you gave me is the one I liked the most.
Aquellos chicos son los que rompieron los cristales de la tienda.
Those guys are the ones who broke the windows of the shop.
Mis hermanas mayores son las que se fueron de viaje por Tailandia.
My older sisters are the ones who went on a trip to Thailand.
When there is an antecedent is it usually before ser.
The antecedent is underlined.
Using El Que/La Que/Los Que/Las Que With an Antecedent And Commas
Have a look at these sentences:
La amiga de Marcos, la que es ingeniera, viene también a la barbacoa.
Marcos’ friend, who is an engineer, is also coming to the barbecue.
La madre de Juan, el que tuvo un accidente, es mi vecina.
Juan’s mother, the one who had an accident, is my neighbour.
The sentences with commas clarify which specific person or thing you are referring to.
The antecedent comes first, then a comma, followed by el que/la que/los que/las que.
Please note that you can also use quien/quienes instead of el que/la que/los que/las que, but only if you are referring to people, not things.
There is no change in meaning.
Quien avisa no es traidor.
The one who warns is not a traitor.
El que avisa no es traidor.
The one who warns is not a traitor.
Quienes presenciaron el accidente llamaron a la ambulancia.
Those who witnessed the accident called the ambulance.
Los que presenciaron el accidente llamaron a la ambulancia.
Those who witnessed the accident called the ambulance.
Example Sentences on How To Use El Que/La Que/Los Que/Las Que
This section of the lesson on how to el que/la que/los que/las que is about seeing them used in sentences.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of el que/la que/los que/las que through examples.
El que lleva pantalones oscuros es mi hijo.
The one wearing dark trousers is my son.
La que sonó antes es mi canción favorita.
The one that was played before is my favourite song.
Las que están hablando allí parecen extranjeras.
The ones talking there look like foreigners.
La que vivía en el primero se mudó hace ya varios meses.
The one who lived in the first one moved out several months ago.
La que venden en la tienda de la esquina es la (sandía) más sabrosa que hemos probado.The one sold at the corner shop is the tastiest watermelon we have ever tasted.
Las que le gustan a Pablo son las de terror. (peliculas)The ones Pablo likes are horror ones. (movies)
Los que vienen de Marruecos no tienen tanto sabor como los tomates españoles.The ones that come from Morocco do not have as much flavour as Spanish tomatoes.
Los que estén en la lista de espera deben permanecer sentados hasta que los llamen.Those on the waiting list should remain seated until they are called.
Las que probamos en Cádiz estaban mucho mejor que éstas.The ones we tried in Cádiz were much better than these.
Los que quieran subir nota deberán presentarse a un examen oral.The ones who want to improve their marks will have to take an oral exam.
El regalo que me hiciste es el que más me ha gustado.
The gift you gave me is the one I liked the most.
Aquellos chicos son los que rompieron los cristales de la tienda.
Those guys are the ones who broke the windows of the shop.
Mis hermanas mayores son las que se fueron de viaje por Tailandia.
My older sisters are the ones who went on a trip to Thailand.
La amiga de Marcos, la que es ingeniera, viene también a la barbacoa.
Marcos’ friend, who is an engineer, is also coming to the barbecue.
La madre de Juan, el que tuvo un accidente, es mi vecina.
Juan’s mother, the one who had an accident, is my neighbour.
Quien avisa no es traidor.
The one who warns is not a traitor.
El que avisa no es traidor.
The one who warns is not a traitor.
Quienes presenciaron el accidente llamaron a la ambulancia.
Those who witnessed the accident called the ambulance.
Los que presenciaron el accidente llamaron a la ambulancia.
Those who witnessed the accident called the ambulance.
Quiz Yourself on How To Use El Que/La Que/Los Que/Las Que
At the end of every lesson you can do a small quiz.
You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.
You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.
Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.
You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!
How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson
Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!
It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.
Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information on flashcards and the best way to learn a new language.
There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.
- Anki
- The Flashcards in our Courses
Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.
After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our Spanish B2 Anki Deck.
This Anki Deck contains 1,376 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for Spanish B2.
All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.
You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!
However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?
The Courses of Language Atlas
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?
I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.
It never really seemed to work for me.
I wanted to learn a language in the most effective and efficient way, and there was nothing out there for me.
So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.
Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.
I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be an easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.
However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.
These courses are easy to follow, clear, and allow you to become fluent in the most effective and efficient way.
The courses of Language Atlas have:
- 800+ Lessons with audio
- 800+ Quizzes
- 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
- A gamified way of learning a new language
- A vibrant community (including support from me)
You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!
This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).
All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!
Don’t miss out – register for free and start learning!
