Lesson 173: Functions of the pronoun, che

The pronoun, che, has many uses in Italian. When learning Italian, it’s important to understand that this pronoun has many different functions. Knowing when and how it is used in a sentence will help you to speak and write better in Italian.

Below are the various uses for, che:

1. relative pronoun (remember, as a relative pronoun, che is used as a the direct object or the subject of the dependent clause):
   
   
   • Hai trovato i guanti che volevo comprare?
   • Did you find the gloves that I wanted to buy?
     
     
2. interrogative pronoun
   
   
   • Che fai domani?
   • What are you doing tomorrow?
     
     
3. interrogative adjective
   
   
   • Che macchina hai adesso?
   • What car do you have now?
     
     
4. indefinite pronoun (as a synonym for qualcosa di)
   
   
   • Giovanni ha un che di strano con le ragazze – ogni volta che parla con loro diventa rosso in viso e gli si agitano le mani.
     
     
   • Giavanni has some shyness with the girls — every time that he talks with them he turns red in the face and fidgets with his hands.
     
     
5. esclamative adjective
   • Che bastardo!
   • What a bastard!
     
     
6. conjunction when used with comparisons
   • Tua sorella è più avventurosa che tranquilla.
   • Your sister is more adventurous than calm.
     
     
7. conjunction when it introduces a consequence
   • Marcello è così noioso che nessuno vuole chiaccherare con lui.
   • Marcello is so boring that no one wants to chat with him.
     
     
8. conjunction when it introduces a subjective or objective clause (such as what one might encounter with the subjunctive)
   
   
   • Credo che il mio capo sia cattivo.
   • I believe that my boss is mean.
     
     
   • È importante che tu finisca i compiti.
   • It is important that you finish your homework.
     
     
9. conjunction when it introduces a purpose (you must do something for a reason or to achieve a certain result)
   
   
   • Va’ in macchina che non devi camminare fino al supermercato
   • Take the car so that you do not have to walk all the way to the supermarket.
     
     
10. conjuction when it introduces an exhortation (with the verb being in the subjunctive), which is a command, an invite, or a permission but with a subtler, more elegant and more mannered tone (you’ll see this more in written Italian — in spoken Italian it might seem somewhat snobbish):
    
    
    • Un cliente dell’avvocato arriva all’ufficio. La segretaria gli dice che il suo cliente apsetta. L’avvocate dice all’segretaria: “Che entri” (This construction is most often used in the third person singular and plural)
      
      
    • The lawyer’s client arrives at the office. The secretary tells him that his client is waiting. The lawyer says to the secretary: “Let him enter”
      
      
11. conjunction when it expresses a cause (as a synonym for perché):
    • Devi lavorare domani che è lunedì.
    • You have to work tomorrow because it is Monday.
      
      
    • Accendi la luce che non posso leggere.
    • Turn on the light because I cannot read.
      
      
12. conjunction when it indicates time (as a synonym for quando):
    
    
    • Vado a letto che il sole tramonta.
    • I go to bed when the sun sets.
      
      
    • Il cane abbaia che il postino recapita la mail.
    • The dog barks when the postman delivers the mail.