1. The Relative Pronouns que, quien, and lo que
(Los pronombres relativos que, quien, y lo que)
¡Éste es, papá! ¡Éste es el coche que quiero!

2. Relative pronouns are used to join two sentences that have a noun or a pronoun in common.
La Fundación escribió el código. El código prohíbe la venta de armas a ciertos países.
The Foundation wrote the code. The code prohibits the sale of arms to certain countries.
La Fundación escribió el código que prohíbe la venta de armas a ciertos países.
The Foundation wrote the code that prohibits the sale of arms to certain countries.

3. The relative pronoun que, meaning that, which, who, and whom, is used for both persons and objects.
El folleto que te di está en la mesa.
The brochure (that) I gave you is on the table.
Esa chica que ves allí es activista de los derechos humanos.
That girl (who) you see there is a human rights activist.

4. The relative pronoun quien(es), meaning who and whom, refers only to persons and is commonly used as an indirect object or after a preposition. Use que to express who or whom unless the phrase is set off by commas or introduced by a preposition. (Note that you will never end a sentence with a preposition in Spanish.)
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, quien fue elegido presidente de España en 2004, es líder del Partido Socialista Obrero Español.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who was elected president of Spain in 2004, is the leader of the Spanish Socialist Worker Party (PSOE).

5. Ésa es la pacifista con quien te vi.
The relative pronoun quien(es), meaning who and whom, refers only to persons and is commonly used as an indirect object or after a preposition. Use que to express who or whom unless the phrase is set off by commas or introduced by a preposition. (Note that you will never end a sentence with a preposition in Spanish.)
Ésa es la pacifista con quien te vi.
That is the pacifist with whom I saw you (that I saw you with).
Ése es el candidato a quien buscabas.
That is the candidate for whom you were looking (that you were looking for).

6. Lo que quiero es la paz y la libertad en mi país.
The relative pronoun lo que, meaning what or that which, is a neuter form, and refers to a previous idea, event, or situation.
Lo que quiero es la paz y la libertad en mi país.
What I want is peace and liberty in my country.
No me gustó lo que hiciste.
I didn’t like what you did.
¿Entiendes lo que dice el presidente?
Do you understand what the president is saying?

7. Remember that the relative pronoun que also introduces a noun clause.
Óscar Arias sabe que es difícil alcanzar una paz duradera.
Óscar Arias knows (that) it is difficult to attain a lasting peace.
En Spanish, the use of the relative pronoun que is never optional.
Estoy buscando el arma que compraste.
I’m looking for the weapon (that) you bought.
El reportero nos informó que los rebeldes habían entregado sus armas.
The reporter informed us (that) the rebels had given up their arms.

8. FIN