Relative clauses

A relative clause is a specific type of subordinate clause that describes, identifies, or gives more information about a noun.
Relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun. The common ones in Greek are ὅς, ἥ, ὅ.
These relative pronouns agree in gender, number, and case with the antecedent - which is the noun or pronoun to which the relative pronoun refers.
The relative pronoun is used in the gender and number of its antecedent, but the case of the relative pronoun is determined by its function within the relative clause.
Remember the endings of the relative pronouns:
- Masculine: ς (nominative), ου (genitive), ῳ (dative), ν (accusative)
- Feminine: η(vocative and nominative), ς (genitive), ῃ (dative), ν (accusative)
-Neuter: ο (nominative and accusative), ου (genitive), ῳ (dative)
This clause can be a subject, object, or possessive clause.

Relative clauses can be restrictive (defining) or non-restrictive (non-defining).
- Restrictive clauses provide essential information about the noun or pronoun it modifies. They’re usually not set off by commas.
- Non-restrictive clauses give additional information that could be left out without changing the overall meaning. They’re typically set off by commas.
Essentially, a relative clause is a way of connecting ideas by turning a statement into a description to provide more detail.
Be watchful of the translated order. In English, the relative clause comes after the noun it modifies, but in Greek, it may be placed elsewhere for emphasis or poetic effect.
In Greek, the relative pronoun goes at the beginning of the clause, regardless of its function in the sentence. So, it may not be the subject. Therefore, it’s meaningful to consider the whole clause before deciphering its function.
It’s useful to spot the relative pronoun as it indicates the beginning of a new clause. This way, you can break down complex Greek sentences into manageable sections.