ANTE TODO

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• ANTE TODO
• It is a misunderstanding to think that Qué?
  always translates as What?, and that Cuál? and
  Cuáles? always translate as Which?
• Qué? and Cuál? or Cuáles? can all be
  translated as What? or Which?
• However, they are not interchangeable.

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BASIC RULE Nouns

• Cuál? and Cuáles? are NEVER used directly
  before a noun. You must use Qué? directly
  before a noun.
• What day is today? Qué día es hoy?
• What day is today? ? Cuál día es hoy?

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• Qué? used before a noun can be translated into
  English as What? or as Which?
• Qué libro lees?
• What (Which) book are you reading?
• Qué clases toman ustedes?
• What (Which) classes are you all taking?

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Un poco más

• Sometimes youll see Cuál? or Cuáles? used
  before a noun, but never directly before it. You
  can only use Cuál? or Cuáles? before a noun if
  the word de follows. The translation is Which
  (one) of?/ Which (ones) of?
• Cuál de las bebidas prefieres, el vino o el
  champán?
• Which of the drinks do you prefer, wine or
  champagne?

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Basic Rule Verbs other than ser

• Unless the verb in the question is ser, you
  will always use the word Qué? directly before
  the verb.

What do you study? Qué estudias? What do
you study? ? Cuál estudias?
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BASIC RULE The verb ser

• Qué? is used before the verb ser only when
  asking for a definition.
• Cuál? and Cuáles? are not used before any of
  the verbs, EXCEPT for the verb ser when asking
  for a choice among several possibilities, rather
  than for a definition.

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• Qué? before the verb ser is used to ask for a
  definition. In this case, the translation is
  What?
• Qué es el flan? (definition)
• What is flan?

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• When Cuál? or Cuáles? comes before the verb
  ser we are not asking for a definition. We are
  asking for a choice. The translation can be What?
  , Which (one)? or Which (ones)?
• Cuál es la mejor clase? Which (one) is the
  best class?
• Cuál es la fecha de hoy? What is todays date?
• Cuáles son las clases más interesantes? Which
  (ones) are the most interesting classes?
• Cuáles son los días de la semana?
• What are the days of the week?

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• In summary
• Directly before a noun, use Qué?
• Directly before all verbs other than ser, use
  Qué?
• Before the verb ser, only use Qué? if you are
  asking for
• a definition.
• Cuál es? (asks for a choice) Which is?
• Cuáles son? (asks for choices) Which are?
• Qué es? (asks for a definition) What is?
• Qué son? (asks for a definition) What are?

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Vamos a practicar

• ____________son los días de la semana?
• Cuáles
• ____________clase es tu favorita?
• Qué
• ____________es tu número de teléfono?
• Cuál
• ____________comes para el almuerzo?
• Qué
• ____________es un buen amigo?
• Qué

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• Hay preguntas?