In everyday Italian, the invariable pronoun che means "who," "whom," "that," or "which." In formal writing, official documents, and professional presentations, you can upgrade che to the stylistic pronoun il quale.
Unlike che, il quale consists of a definite article and the word quale, both of which must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to. Because it shows gender and number, il quale helps clear up ambiguity in complex sentences.
| Number | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | il quale | la quale |
| Plural | i quali | le quali |
Il quale and its forms can replace che as a subject or direct object. They often sit after commas to introduce extra, descriptive information.
For a masculine singular noun, use il quale.
| The speaker, who presented the project, is an expert. | Il relatore, il quale ha presentato il progetto, è un esperto. |
For a feminine singular noun, use la quale.
| The committee analyzed the survey, which confirms the outcome. | Il comitato ha analizzato l'indagine, la quale conferma l'esito. |
For plural nouns, use i quali (masculine) or le quali (feminine).
| The parameters, which change the procedure, are very complicated. | I parametri, i quali cambiano la procedura, sono molto complicati. |
| The rules, which reduce the speed, are fundamental. | Le regole, le quali riducono la velocità, sono fondamentali. |
Because of its elevated register, you will constantly see this family of relative pronouns paired with formal, professional vocabulary.
| The measure, which changes the criterion of the regulation, has a positive impact. | Il provvedimento, il quale cambia il criterio della normativa, ha un impatto positivo. |