RELATIVE PRONOUNS

How to identify relative clauses | how to translate them

case: from its function in its clause

number/gender: from the antecedent

every relative pronoun introduces a relative clause (a kind of dependent clause)

How to unravel a sentence with a relative clause:

Example: Magister puerum qui te amat videt.

1. Identify the relative clause (as a rule, it begins with a relative pronoun and ends with a verb) and put brackets around it.

Magister puerum {qui te amat} videt.

2. SOV the sentence:

3. Translate the core sentence: 

Magister puerum {qui te amat} videt.   =   The teacher sees the boy.

3. Return to the relative clause. Identify the antecedent of the relative pronoun (usually the word immediately preceding the relative pronoun): puerum

4. How do you know for sure? the number and gender of the relative pronoun (qui) and its antecedent (puerum) must agree: singular and masculine.

5. Translate the relative clause. Since you know that qui is nominative, you know it is the subject of the verb in the clause it governs:

(the boy) who loves you

6. Put the whole sentence together. Remember that a relative clause acts in the same way as a big, fat adjective - it simply gives you more information about a noun...The teacher sees the boy. Which boy? The boy who loves you (oh, that boy!):

The teacher sees the boy who loves you.

USE OF THE RELATIVE PRONOUN IN EVERY CASE:

Magister puerum {qui te amat} videt.
The teacher sees the boy who likes you.

Magister puerum {cuius canis vivit} videt.
The teacher sees the boy whose dog is alive.

Magister puerum {cui donum dedi} videt.
The teacher sees the boy to whom I gave a gift.

Magister puerum {quem amas} videt.
The teacher sees the boy whom you love.

Magister puerum {quocum ambulas} videt.
The teacher sees the boy with whom you are walking.