Adding information with relative clauses

In brief

A relative clause adds information about a person or thing you have just mentioned. In Brazilian Portuguese, put que after that noun to connect the extra information to the main sentence. Unlike English, you cannot leave que out when it refers to the object of the extra clause.

Form

noun + que + clause: o livro que comprei (the book I bought)

Usage

• Use a relative clause to identify which person or thing you mean: A pessoa que ligou deixou um recado.
• Use one to add a useful detail without starting a new sentence: Tenho um amigo que mora em Recife.
• Keep que even when English can omit ‘that’: O filme que vimos ontem foi ótimo.

Examples

• A mulher que mora ao lado é médica. — The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
• Comprei um livro que explica o assunto de forma simples. — I bought a book that explains the topic simply.
• O café que você recomendou estava ótimo. — The café you recommended was great.

Common mistake

❌ O café você recomendou estava ótimo.

✅ O café que você recomendou estava ótimo.

English allows ‘the café you recommended’, but Portuguese needs que to link the clause to café.

Remember

English may drop ‘that’ in an object relative clause; Brazilian Portuguese keeps que.