馃挕 This story was written to illustrate instances when to use Que and Cual in Spanish. The grammar tips are after the story here. Look for examples throughout the story indicated by the number of the grammar point. eg (1)
Spanish:
Hab铆a una vez un viajero que visitaba un mercado en M茅xico. Se acerc贸 a un puesto de frutas y pregunt贸 al vendedor qu茅 frutas eran las m谩s dulces. El vendedor respondi贸 que los mangos eran los m谩s dulces y le ofreci贸 una muestra. El viajero decidi贸 comprar un par de mangos para su viaje. (1)
Luego, el viajero se acerc贸 a un puesto de comida y pregunt贸 al chef cu谩l era su especialidad. El chef respondi贸 que su especialidad era el mole y le recomend贸 una porci贸n. El viajero disfrut贸 tanto del mole que pregunt贸 qu茅 ingredientes conten铆a. (2)
Despu茅s, el viajero fue a una tienda de ropa y pregunt贸 al empleado cu谩l camisa se ver铆a mejor en 茅l. El empleado le recomend贸 una camisa de color verde y le dijo que que costaba solo $20. El viajero decidi贸 comprar la camisa y continuar su camino por el mercado. (3)
English:
Once upon a time, a traveler visited a market in Mexico. He approached a fruit stand and asked the vendor which fruits were the sweetest. The vendor replied that mangos were the sweetest and offered him a sample. The traveler decided to buy a couple of mangos for his journey. (1)
Next, the traveler approached a food stand and asked the chef what his specialty was. The chef replied that his specialty was mole and recommended a portion. The traveler enjoyed the mole so much that he asked which ingredients it contained. (2)
Later, the traveler went to a clothing store and asked the employee which shirt would look best on him. The employee recommended a green shirt and told him that it cost only $20. The traveler decided to buy the shirt and continue on his way through the market. (3)
Puntos Gramaticales
1. Use “que” to ask for a definition or a choice between options:
驴Qu茅 es el futbol? (What is soccer?)
驴Qu茅 color prefieres, rojo o azul? (Which color do you prefer, red or blue?)
In the story:
El via jero pregunt贸 al vendedor qu茅 frutas eran las m谩s dulces. (The traveler asked the vendor which fruits were the sweetest.)
El viajero disfrut贸 tanto del mole que pregunt贸 qu茅 ingredientes conten铆a. (The traveler enjoyed the mole so much that he asked which ingredients it contained.)
2. Use “cu谩l” to ask for a specific item or to choose between a limited number of options:
驴Cu谩l es tu canci贸n favorita? (What is your favorite song?)
驴Cu谩l es el mejor restaurante en la ciudad? (What is the best restaurant in the city?)
In the story:
El viajero se acerc贸 a un puesto de comida y pregunt贸 al chef cu谩l era su especialidad. (The traveler approached a food stand and asked the chef what his specialty was.)
El viajero fue a una tienda de ropa y pregunt贸 al empleado cu谩l camisa se ver铆a mejor en 茅l. (The traveler went to a clothing store and asked the employee which shirt would look best on him.)
3. Use “que” to introduce a clause describing something:
El libro que le铆 ayer era muy interesante. (The book that I read yesterday was very interesting.)
La persona que conoc铆 en la fiesta era muy simp谩tica. (The person that I met at the party was very nice.)
In the story:
El empleado le recomend贸 una camisa de color verde y le dijo que costaba solo $20. (The employee recommended a green shirt and told him that it cost only $20.)