The use of Qué and Cuál in Spanish is confusing because both words have the same translation in English: what

We can determine whether to use one or the other of these interrogative adverbs depending on the context.

Note that, like all interrogative adverbs, Qué and Cuál always have an accent.

I. Use of Qué

Generally speaking, Qué is used in a DEFINITION, EXPLANATION or DESCRIPTION situation.

The structure QUÉ + SER is used when we want to define something:

¿ Qué es un verbo? ==> What is a verb?
¿ Qué es eso? ==> What is this?
¿ Qué es un placebo? ==> What is a placebo?
¿ Qué estas bebiendo? ==> What are you drinking?
¿ Qué vas a comprar? ==> What are you going to buy?
¿ Qué quieres? ==> What do you want?

II. Emploi de Cuál

The word Cuál is used to ask for information about one or more things (Cuáles) belonging to a group already identified.

Cuál is also used to make a choice between several elements of a group – the group is already known to the people who are talking and the choice is about something concrete, tangible.

* When Cuál is preceded by the verb SER, it corresponds to the English “What is…? “

Examples:

¿ Cuál coche quieres más ? ==> Which car do you like the most?
¿ Cuáles son tus prioridades? ==> What are your priorities?
¿ Cuáles son los días de la semana? ==> What are the days of the week?
¿ Cuál es tu nombre? ==> What is your name?
¿ Cuál es su dirección? ==> What is your address?
¿ Cuáles son las opciones? ==> What are the options?
¿ Cuál será el propósito de tu viaje? ==> What will be the purpose of your trip?

* When used with verbs other than SER, cuál expresses a choice and corresponds to Which one(s).

Example :

¿ Cuál quieres? ==> Which one do you want?
¿ Cuáles son tus chocolates favoritos? ==> What are your favorite chocolates?

*Cuál preceded by the preposition “de” means “Which one of….” (In a group/set already identified)

Example :

¿ Cuál de los dos prefieres ? ==> Which of the two do you prefer?
¿ Cuál de esas frutas prefieres ? ==> Which of these fruits do you prefer?

* When it comes to making a choice in a homogeneous group, we choose the word Cuál :

Example :

De todas esas películas ¿ Cuál es tu favorita ? ==> Of all these movies, which one is your favorite? (Homogeneous group)

* When it is a question of making a choice in a heterogeneous group, one will choose the word Qué :

Example :

Para el regalo de Ana ¿ Qué compramos, un libro o un reloj ? ==> For Ana’s present, what are we buying, a book or a watch? (Heterogeneous group of objects).

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