Cujo, cuja and prepositions in Portuguese relative clauses

Agree with what is possessed

The forms are cujo, cuja, cujos and cujas. The noun immediately belonging to that possessive expression determines gender and number. The owner’s gender can differ without changing the rule.

O autor cujas cartas li chegou.

The author whose letters I read arrived.

Do not insert an article after cujo

The possessive relative already determines the following noun. In the edited pattern, do not write cujo o livro or cujas as cartas. A separate sentence can be clearer when the relative becomes too dense.

A autora cujo livro li está aqui.

The author whose book I read is here.

Preserve the verb’s relationship

In the edited relative de cujos livros gosto, ownership and liking are separate relationships. The verb pattern gostar de still supplies its preposition. Conversational relatives can follow different patterns; a writing exercise should identify its target register.

Conheço a autora de cujos livros você gosta.

I know the author whose books you like.

Practise, then recall it later

The matching grammar block includes guided practice, a separate mastery check and spaced review. The first 10 blocks of each course are free; other available blocks require course access or an eligible trial.

Build on this pattern

• When to write à or a in Portuguese: crase explained
• Portuguese articles: o, a, um and uma without guessing noun gender
• Brazilian Portuguese subjunctive: espero que and duvido que