DI: Lesson - Relative Pronouns - Introduction

Relative Pronouns - Introduction

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that resides within a dependent clause, connecting that clause to an antecedent noun, providing additional information about that noun. An antecedent is the noun being referred to by a pronoun.  

Relative pronouns are used to provide additional information about a particular noun. English uses the words who/whom/whose, which, and that as relative pronouns. Latin has a fully declined relative pronoun, qui, quae, quod, with the following forms.

Relative Pronoun Formation

The relative pronoun is similar to the demonstrative pronouns in formation, in that it uses the irregular formation rules. Please learn these forms thoroughly.

qui, quae, quod - Forms Table

Case	Masculine Singular	Masculine Plural	Feminine Singular	Feminine Plural	Neuter Singular	Neuter Plural
Nominative	qui	qui	quae	quae	quod	quae
Genitive	cuius	quorum	cuius	quarum	cuius	quorum
Dative	cui	quibus	cui	quibus	cui	quibus
Accusative	quem	quos	quam	quas	quod	quae
Ablative	quo	quibus	qua	quibus	quo	quibus

Nota Bene

• In general, the masculine and feminine forms are used to mean who/whom while the neuter forms are used to mean which or that.
• Irregular Adjective Reminder:
  • genitive singular = -ius (all genders): cuius
  • dative singular = -i (all genders): cui
  • The relative pronoun does have additional differences from a typical irregular form:
    • Masculine, accusative, singular uses -em: quem
    • Dative and ablative plural use -ibus: quibus
• Like personal pronouns, the relative pronoun will attach -cum as an enclitic:
  • Singular: quocum/quacum - with whom, with which
  • Plural: quibuscum - with whom, with which

Practice Activity