The document defines and provides examples of relative clauses and relative pronouns. Relative clauses are descriptive clauses that modify nouns. They are introduced by relative pronouns which connect the relative clause to the noun or antecedent in the main clause. The form of the relative pronoun depends on the gender, number and case of its antecedent and the function of the pronoun in its clause. Examples are provided and analyzed to demonstrate identifying the antecedent, relative pronoun, and determining the correct form based on agreement.

1. Relative Clauses

2. Definition
• Relative clauses are a type of
subordinate clause
• They are descriptive clauses that
modify nouns

3. Example
Cornelia est puella Romana quae in
Italia habitat.
• The underlined clause gives
information about the noun “puella”
• This relative clause describes
Cornelia as living in Italy

4. Relative Pronouns
• Relative Clauses are introduced by
Relative Pronouns.
• Relative Pronouns connect the statement in
the subordinate clause (the relative clause)
to the noun in the main clause
• From our example:
Cornelia est puella Romana quae in Italia
habitat.
Relative Pronoun

5. Antecedent
• The noun in the main clause which
connects to the relative clause is
called the antecedent.
• Cornelia est puella Romana quae in
Italia habitat.
• In this example “puella” is the
antecedent.

6. Forms of the Relative
Pronoun
See Handout

7. Choosing the correct relative
pronoun
The form of the relative pronoun that
introduces a relative clause depends
on two things:
1. The gender and number of its
antecedent
2. The case required by the function of
the relative pronoun in its own clause

8. Example:
• Cornelia est puella Romana quae in Italia
habitat.
• From the chart, “quae” could be 4 choices
– Can you find which ones?
• “quae” is the correct relative pronoun because it
matches its antecedent (“puella”) in gender and
number (fem., and sing.)
• The case is nominative because in the relative
clause “quae” is the subject

9. Example #1
• Crines eius curabant duae ancillae, quarumquarum
altera speculum tenebat.
• Here, “quarum” is the relative pronoun
that introduces the relative clause
• If the antecedent is “ancillae”, what
gender and number must “quarum” be?
• What case is “quarum”? Why?

10. Example #1 cont.
• Crines eius curabant duae ancillae,
quarumquarum altera speculum tenebat.
• “quarum” is genitive because the
relative clause states “one (of the
slavewomen) was holding a mirror”
• “quarum” is fem. Pl. because
“ancillae” is feminine plural

11. Example #2
• Phrygia, quae crines neglegenter
pectebat, dominam vexabat.
• Which word is the antecedent?
• Which word is the relative pronoun?
• Which is the relative clause?
• What gender, case and number could
the relative pronoun be?

12. Example #2 cont.
• “quae” is the relative pronoun
• The antecedent is “Phrygia”
• “quae” could be 4 different forms
–What forms could “quae” be?
• What gender and number is “Phygia”?
• What gender and number must “quae”
be?

13. Example #2 cont.
• Since “Phrygia” is feminine singular,
“quae” must be feminine singular
• How does “quae” function in the relative
clause?
–“(Phrygia) was carelessly brushing the
hair”
• “Phrygia” is the subject, so “quae” must
be which case?
• “Quae” must be nominative case

14. Example #3
• Many men were in the streets which were not
lit well.
• antecedent _______________ case _____
number _____ gender _____
• relative pronoun _______________ case _____
number _____ gender _____
• What other noun(s) are in the sentence?
• What case would each be?
• What tense would the verb were be?
• What person and number would the verb be?

15. Example #4
• Have you seen that beautiful litter in which that
huge man was riding?
• antecedent _____ case _____ number _____
gender_____
• relative pronoun ____ case _____ number _____
gender _____
• What other noun(s) are in the sentence?
• What case would each be?
• What tense would the verb have seen be?
• What person and number would the verb be?
• What tense would the verb was riding be?