When To Use Qui Que Dont

So, there I was, in the middle of a heated debate with my friend about the best way to cook pasta. I mean, who knew that choosing between 'al dente' and 'well-done' could spark such a passionate argument? Anyway, I digress. The point is, I found myself saying, "You know, I've heard that it's better to use 'que' instead of 'que' in this context." Cue the confused look on my friend's face. I realized then that I might need to explain the difference between 'que' and 'que' in a way that doesn't make people's brains hurt.

When to Use 'Qué' vs 'Qué'

Alright, let's dive in. Both 'qué' and 'que' are used to introduce indirect questions in Spanish, but they're not interchangeable. Let's start with 'qué', which is the most common one. It's used when you're asking for information or expressing doubt. For example, "¿Qué hora es?" means "What time is it?" or "No sé qué hacer." means "I don't know what to do."

Now, here's where it gets a bit tricky. 'Qué' is used when you're asking for a specific item or thing. For instance, "¿Qué libro quieres?" means "Which book do you want?" or "¿Qué zapatos te gustan?" means "Which shoes do you like?"

But Wait, There's More!

You might be thinking, "Okay, that makes sense. But what about when I want to say 'what' in a more general sense, like 'what a beautiful day'?" Well, my friend, that's where 'que' comes in. 'Que' is used to introduce indirect questions that express an opinion or emotion. For example, "Qué lindo día hace hoy." means "What a beautiful day it is today."

Here's a quick recap: Use 'qué' when you're asking for information, expressing doubt, or choosing between specific items. Use 'que' when you're expressing an opinion or emotion.

Pronoms relatifs qui, que et dont pr…: Français FLE fiches pedagogiques

Let's Practice!

Alright, let's test your newfound knowledge. Which one would you use in these sentences?

• ¿Qué o ¿que lindo perro es ese?
• ¿Qué o ¿que buen amigo eres?
• ¿Qué o ¿que tacos quieres?

And the answers are: 'Qué' for the first two sentences (asking for information and expressing an opinion), and 'que' for the last one (asking for a specific item).

So there you have it, folks. The next time you're debating the perfect pasta cooking time, or any other topic, you'll know exactly when to use 'qué' or 'que'. And who knows, maybe you'll even impress your friends with your newfound linguistic prowess. Happy learning!