Que/quien/el cual ... ¿'el que' también o no?

Question

Hi teachers,

(I know there are other lessons on this, which I've done, but I'm still confused) - Following on from Melissa's question below and using the same example for clarity;

The relative pronoun 'el/la que' doesn't appear in this lesson,

what would be the difference then, if we said 'El director del colegio, EL QUE trabaja duro, es respetado por todos?'

I've always understood el/la que to mean 'THE ONE who/which', so I would think using 'el que' would imply there are two headteachers, one who works hard and is respected, and one who doesn't.

But in a grammar book I have, it gives the example; 'Esta autora, que/quien/la cual/LA QUE vive en Brasil, va a visitar nuestra ciudad', (This author, WHO lives in Brasil...)

Please help me to understand. Thanks.

Answer

Hola Heather,
yes, that is the function of this relative pronoun here; as you are saying, "el que", used between commas, adds specific information about that subject, singling him out from others (that one who works hard, not the other)
We have a specific lesson for el que/la que/los que/las que here. You will see some examples of this type if you scroll down to the part that says: "With antecedent, between commas". 
Saludos
Inma

Answer

Thanks Inma. Does that mean the example in my book, where it says that 'la que' is just as interchangeable as the other options,  (Esta autora, la que vive en Brasil, va a visitar nuestra ciudad) is incorrect then, and actually only 'que' 'quien',  and 'la cual' are the right options if you want to say ''This author, who lives in Brazil..."?