Syntactical Function

The relative pronoun qui, quae, quod is declined in all cases, numbers and genders. Translate who (person), which (thing), whom (acc.), of whom/whose (gen.).

The relative pronoun introduces a subordinate clause which describes a noun or pronoun in the main clause. This noun or pronoun is called the antecedent.

The relative pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender and number, but its case is determined by its own relative clause.

It is important to identify the antecedent that the relative pronoun is referring to.

Translate the Relative Clause

Miles, qui uictoriam reportauit, est fortissimus.The soldier, who reported the victory, is brave.

qui refers to miles. They agree in gender and number, but qui is nominative because it is the subject of its own clause: reportauit.

Librum, quem mihi dedisti, legi.I read the book which you gave me.

Librum is the antecedent quem is referring to; again they agree in gender and number. Here quem is accusative because it is the direct object of its own clause: dedisti.

Puella, quam amas, soror mea est. The girl, whom you love, is my sister.

Although quam refers to puella, they do not agree in case. Puella is nominative because it is the subject of the main verb, est; quam is accusative because it is the direct object of amas.

Feminae, quarum in horto ludunt, Romanae sunt. The women in whose garden we party are Roman.

lit. The women, in the garden of whom we party, are Roman. Better English: The women in whose garden we party are Roman.

Editors of real Latin don't always help beginning readers with commas; for example,

Miles est fortissimus qui uictoriam reportavit.

It is helpful to isolate the relative clause with brackets and draw an arrow from the relative pronoun (qui) to the antecedent (miles).

Miles est fortissimus (qui uictoriam reportauit). The soldier, who reported the victory, is brave.

When you see a form of the relative pronoun, find the verb within the relative clause. Bracket the clause and identify the antecedent in the main clause. Construe the main clause first, and then translate the relative pronoun. This will help you get your priorities straight--after all, the relative clause is only a subordinate clause.

Note. Some forms of th

e relative pronoun are ambiguous. Eg. quam (fem. acc. sing) can also be the adverb quam (than). Quod can also mean "because". quisquis, quaequae, quodquod (indefinite pronoun: anyone/anything) is often shortened as quis, quae, quod--some of whose declined forms might be confused with the relative pronoun. E.g. quem. Context will help you decide what part of speech they are.

Antecedent Omitted

Latin uses the relative construction far more than English, and very often the antecedent is unexpressed. In that case the antecedent must be supplied.

Quae relata sunt, ea refero. I repeat the things that I heard.

Quae relata sunt, refero. I repeat what I heard. (much more idiomatic Latin)

The second setence omits the antecedent ea (the things) that quae refers to.

Worksheet

Identify the antecedent in each sentence (supply if unexpressed), and the translate:

1. Qui fortiter pugnant, laude digni sunt.

2. Romulus oppidum hic condidit, quod Romam appellauit.

3. Haud renouabo eam amicitiam qua tum destiti.

4. Hic vir est idem qui patriam liberauit.

5. Nullus fere dies, quo non recitaret aliquis.

6.Multo magis eis laudandum est, quos uel desidia uel superbia non retardat.

7. Ferte me per extremas gentis et undas, qua non ulla meum femina norit iter!