Stage 15
Relative Clauses
More than you probably
want to know about
relatives!
Not these..... These are
Augustus’s relatives!
What we’ll cover
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What is a clause?
The English relative clause
The English relative pronoun
The Latin relative pronoun
Latin relative clauses
What is a clause?
• Any thought, idea, or event which is expressed
in language
Clause 1: Rufilla is unhappy.
Clause 2: Rufilla lives far fom London.
2 clauses: Rufilla is unhappy because she lives far
fom London.
2 clauses: Rufilla, who lives far fom London, is
unhappy.
An English Relative Clause is...
... a giant adjective clause, giving us information
about a noun in another clause.
Let’s look at an example
showing how the relative
clause evolves.....
Here’s an example – we have two single
clauses:
Clause 1: The boys are not
listening to the master.
Clause 2: The master is
reading a very long story.
Relative Clause
Now, we’ll weave the two clauses into one sentence – with
a Main Clause and a relative clause describing a noun in
the Main Clause.
Step 1:
Clause 1: The boys are not listening to the master.
Clause 2: The master is reading a very long story.
Substitute a pronoun for “master” in Clause 2.
Clause 1: The boys are not listening to the master.
Clause 2: He is reading a very long story.
Weave into one sentence
Step 2:
Clause 1: The boys are not listening to the master.
Clause 2: He is reading a very long story.
Weave them together into one sentence.....
MAIN CLAUSE: The boys are not listening to the master,
RELATIVE CLAUSE: who
? is reading a very long story.
giant adjective describing the master
English Relative Pronoun
• The English relative pronoun has cases – just like in
Latin!
PEOPLE/ANIMALS
Nominative
Acusative
who
whom
ANIMALS/THINGS
which
which
Note: 1. In English, we often say “that” instead of “who,””whom,” or “which.”
The boy whom I like plays basketball becomes The boy that I like plays
basketball
2. In English we also can omit the relative pronoun altogether.
The boy I Iike plays basketball.
THIS CANNOT HAPPEN IN LATIN – LATI N MUST ALWAYS USE A
RELATIVE PRONOUN
Another Example
• Clause 1: The slave is terrified.
• Clause 2: The bull is chasing the slave.
Now, we’ll weave the two clauses into one sentence –
with a Main Clause and a relative clause describing a
noun in the Main Clause.
• Clause 1: The slave is terrified.
• Clause 2: The bull is chasing the slave.
Step 1: Replace “slave” in Clause 2 with a pronoun –
what pronoun?
Clause 1: The slave is terrified.
Clause 2: The bull is chasing __?__.
him
Clause 1: The slave is terrified.
Clause 2: The bull is chasing him.
Step 2A: Merge the two sentences....
The slave – the bull is chasing him – is terrified
Step 2B: A bit more work to make one MAIN CLAUSE
and one RELATIVE CLAUSE
The slave – the bull is chasing him whom
– is terrified
Now, replace the pronoun “him” with a relative pronoun – what
relative pronoun?
Final Adjustments
The slave – the bull is chasing whom - is terrified.
That’s not how we really would say it....
So, move the relative pronoun – whom – to the
beginning of the relative clause....
And EUGE!
The slave, whom the bull is chasing, is terrified.
giant mutant adjective
describing the slave