In the Spanish language, the equivalent for the English relative pronoun “whose” is represented by two distinct forms, “de quién” and “cuyo”.
“De quién”, a compound preposition, is often used in interrogative and exclamatory sentences, inquiring about ownership or affiliation. For instance, “¿De quién es este libro?” translates to “Whose book is this?”. It’s crucial to remember that “de quién” is flexible and can be used in both singular and plural forms, such as “de quiénes”.
The other Spanish term equivalent to “whose” is “cuyo”. Functioning as a relative possessive adjective, it links the owner with what they own. Unlike “de quién”, “cuyo” must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, not the owner. For example, “Es un escritor cuyo libro ganó un premio” means “He is a writer whose book won an award”. In this context, “cuyo” must match “libro” (book), which is singular and masculine.
Contrary to “de quién”, “cuyo” is used more formally and is less common in everyday conversation. Its complexity lies in adjusting the form (“cuyo”, “cuya”, “cuyos”, “cuyas”) based on the noun it modifies.
Understanding the proper usage of “de quién” and “cuyo” is a significant step towards mastering Spanish, allowing learners to convey possession and relationships accurately and efficiently.