CAPUT XVII: Relative Clauses

More than you probably want to know about

relatives! Not these..... These are

Augustus’s relatives!

What we’ll cover •  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 mutant adjective” clause, giving us

information about a noun in another clause.

Let’s look at an example showing how the relative clause evolves.....

Clause 1: The boys are not listening to the master. Clause 2: The master is reading a very long story.

Here’s an example – we have two single clauses:

Relative 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.

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.

Weave into one sentence

Weave them together into one sentence..... MAIN CLAUSE: The boys are not listening to the master, RELATIVE CLAUSE: ? is reading a very long story.

who

Step 2: Clause 1: The boys are not listening to the master. Clause 2: He is reading a very long story.

giant mutant adjective describing the master

English Relative Pronoun •  The English relative pronoun has cases – just

like in Latin! PEOPLE/ANIMALS ANIMALS/THINGS

Nominative who which Acusative whom 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.

•  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 __?__.

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.

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 – is terrified Now, replace the pronoun “him” with a relative pronoun –

what relative pronoun?

whom

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