Quiz – Que or Qual

O que vai fazer amanhã? (What are you doing tomorrow?)

Que on its own is also possible, but less common.

Qual can’t be used in this context.

Que barulho é esse? (What noise is that?)

It can’t be O que because it’s followed by a noun.

Qual sounds awkward here but not impossible. It would also be mostly used in Brazilian Portuguese.

Qual é o seu nome?

Qual is the only correct option in this case because the question points to a selection of options within a category (“Which name is yours?”).

In this context, both Qual or Que can be used because the question is “which one (car)” did you buy.

Though ‘Qual carro compraste?’ would be favoured in Brazilian Portuguese an ‘Que carro compraste?’ is how we typically say it here in Portugal.

we can use qual in these contexts in European Portuguese, but the sentence structure is altered: Qual foi o carro que compraste? (Which was the car that you bought?)

In this context, both Qual or Que can be used because the question is “which one (book)” did you buy.

Though ‘Qual livro está lendo?’ would be favoured in Brazilian Portuguese and ‘Que livro está a ler??’ is how we typically say it here in Portugal.

we can use qual in these contexts in European Portuguese, but the sentence structure is altered: Qual foi o livro que leste? (Which was the car that you bought?)

In this context, only Qual is correct because the question points to a selection of options within a category (“Which address is yours?”).

O que disse ele?

Que on its own is also possible, but less common.

Qual can’t be used in this context.

O que is the only correct option. Because it’s followed by a verb.

Qual is the only correct option in this case because the question points to a selection of options within a category (colours).

In this context, both Qual or Que can be used because the question is “which types od tea” do you have.

Though ‘Qual tipo chá tem?’ would be favoured in Brazilian Portuguese and ‘Que tipo chá tem?’ is how we typically say it here in Portugal.