Relative clauses

Understanding Relative Clauses

• Relative clauses are types of subordinate clauses which provide extra information about a noun in the main clause.
• These clauses are introduced by relative pronouns, which relate to an antecedent in the main clause.
• The antecedent is the noun or pronoun that the relative pronoun refers to.
• Key relative pronouns in Latin include: qui, quae, quod (who, which, that), cuius (whose), cui (to/for whom), and quo (by/with/from whom).

Construction of Relative Clauses

• Latin relative pronouns must agree with their antecedent in gender and number, but they follow their own clause’s case.
• The antecedent generally comes straight before the relative clause but can occasionally be found inside it.
• Unlike English, Latin uses a relative pronoun even where we would use a personal pronoun in English e.g., The man whom I saw in Latin would be vir quem vidi, literally translating to The man who I saw.

Importance of Relative Clauses

• Relative clauses are important as they add depth and detail to the main statement, enhancing linguistic richness.
• They are an essential component to understanding complex Latin texts.

Practical Applications

• Practice by translating sentences with relative clauses from Latin into English and vice versa.
• Spotting the relative pronoun and identifying its antecedent are the first steps in understanding relative clauses.
• Ensure to examine the gender and number of the antecedent and the case of the relative pronoun for an accurate translation.

Relative Clauses and Subjunctive Mood

• Be aware that in certain contexts, the verb within a relative clause may be in the subjunctive mood, often indicating a purpose or result within the relative clause.