Using 'Quem' After Prepositions

Imagine you are at a crowded party.

You want to introduce your best friend.

You don't just say 'The friend I talk'.

You say 'The friend with whom I talk'.

In Portuguese, this 'whom' is always quem.

The preposition depends on the verb you use.

Some verbs are very needy and demand prepositions.

Gostar always demands the preposition de.

Falar often demands com or sobre.

The preposition always comes before the word quem.

It’s like a bodyguard walking ahead of a celebrity.

The bodyguard (preposition) opens the door for quem.

This structure keeps your sentences clear and logical.

It tells you exactly how people relate to actions.

It is the secret to B2-level fluency.

1. 1Building these sentences is a three-step dance.
2. 2Identify the person you are talking about.
3. 3Pick the verb and its required preposition.
4. 4Combine them: [Preposition] + quem.
5. 5Let's try a real-world office scenario.
6. 6You are talking about a manager.
7. 7The verb is trabalhar (to work).
8. 8This verb needs the preposition com (with).
9. 9The result: O gerente com quem eu trabalho.
10. 10See how simple the math is?
11. 11It is just logic wrapped in a beautiful language.
12. 12Do not let the 'complex' label scare you.
13. 13It is just a puzzle with human pieces.
14. 14Once you see the pattern, you can't unsee it.

Use this pattern when your sentence has two parts.

The first part mentions a specific person.

The second part describes an action involving them.

It is perfect for professional job interviews.

'The client with whom I negotiated the deal.'

O cliente com quem negociei o acordo.

Use it when expressing deep personal feelings.

'The person of whom I am fond.'

A pessoa de quem eu gosto.

It works for giving directions or instructions too.

'The person to whom you should deliver this.'

A pessoa a quem você deve entregar isto.

It adds a layer of precision to your speech.

It shows you understand the 'social' side of verbs.

Verbs have social lives just like you do.

Never use quem for your new iPhone.

Devices and objects use que or o qual.

Quem is strictly for humans and pets with names.

Don't use it if there is no preposition.

If the verb is direct, que is often better.

O homem que eu vi (The man I saw).

No preposition is needed for the verb ver.

Also, avoid overusing it in very casual slang.

In the street, people sometimes get a bit lazy.

They might say A pessoa que eu falei com.

That is technically a 'grammatical crime' in exams.

Keep quem for when you want to impress.

It is your 'tuxedo' or 'fancy dress' grammar point.

Use it wisely to maintain your learner's dignity.

The 'Preposition Drop' is the most common sin.

Many learners say A pessoa quem eu gosto.

This sounds like 'The person who I like' without 'of'.

In Portuguese, that 'of' (de) is mandatory.

Correct: A pessoa DE quem eu gosto.

Another mistake is using quem for a house.

A casa em quem moro is a hilarious error.

Unless your house is alive, use onde or na qual.

Don't confuse quem with que.

Que is the 'everyman' of pronouns; it’s everywhere.

Quem is the specialist for human-preposition combos.

Finally, watch out for the wrong preposition choice.

Using com when the verb wants a is confusing.

Always check what the verb 'eats' for breakfast.

Some eat de, others prefer por or com.

You might ask, 'What about o qual?'.

O qual is the formal cousin of quem.

It changes based on gender: o qual, a qual.

Quem is easier because it never changes form.

It is always quem, regardless of gender or number.

This makes it a safe bet for learners.

Que can also follow short prepositions like com.

A pessoa com que eu saí is okay.

But A pessoa com quem eu saí sounds more human.

Quem emphasizes the personhood of the subject.

It’s like adding a 'human' tag to your sentence.

Use que for objects and quem for people.

This simple split will solve 90% of your doubts.

Think of it like sorting laundry for your brain.