09.11.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [15][iii] Notes (2) quī, quae, quod [i]

Quī, quae, quod are relative pronouns, the equivalent of English ‘who’ or ‘which’; they introduce a relative clause and refer to the person or thing in the main clause:

[i] Manlius est nōmen secundī puerī ¦ quī est puer medius quoque │ Manlius is the name of the second boy ¦ who is also the middle boy

[ii] Casam cūrant et cēnam parvam ¦ quae est nunc in mēnsā parant │ They’re taking care of the cottage and preparing a small dinner ¦ which is not on the table

[iii] Animal nigrum ¦ quod post puerōs stat est equus ducis │ The black animal ¦ which is standing behind the boys is the commander’s horse

The person or thing they refer to is known as the antecedent; in the examples:

Manlius est nōmen secundī puerī [antecedent] ¦ quī est puer medius quoque

Casam cūrant et cēnam parvam [antecedent] ¦ quae est nunc in mēnsā ¦ parant

Animal nigrum [antecedent] ¦ quod post puerōs stat est equus ducis

Two points to note:

[1] the relative pronoun agrees in gender and number with its antecedent

[2] the case of the relative pronoun depends on its use within the relative clause:

Manlius est nōmen secundī puerī [antecedent: masculine singular] ¦ quī [masculine singular; nominative] est puer medius quoque │ Marius is the name of the second boy ¦ who is also the middle boy

ā dextrā est tertius [antecedent: masculine singular] ¦ quī [masculine singular; nominative] est parvus │ on the right is a third (boy) ¦ who is small

Marius est dux [antecedent: masculine singular] mīlitum ¦ quī [masculine singular; nominative] iaculum longum … portat │ Marcus is the commander of the soldiers ¦ who is carrying a long javelin

… cēnam parvam [antecedent: feminine singular] ¦ quae [feminine singular; nominative] est nunc in mēnsā ¦ parant │ they are preparing a small dinner ¦ which is on the table

Animal nigrum [antecedent: neuter singular] ¦ quod [neuter singular; nominative] post puerōs stat … │ the black animal ¦ which is standing behind the boys

Marius quattuor frātrēs [antecedent: masculine plural] ¦ quī [masculine plural; nominative] in bellō pugnābant ¦ habet │ Marius has four brothers ¦ who were fighting in a war

Haec fābula est grāta puerīs, Carolō et Cassiō [antecedent: masculine plural], quī [masculine plural; nominative] mox ad stabulum agricolae eunt │ This story is pleasing to the boys Carolus and Cassius ¦ who are soon going to the farmer’s table

sunt trēs puerī Rōmānī [antecedent: masculine plural] │ quōs [masculine plural; accusative] Carolus et Cassius maximē laudant │ There are three Roman boys ¦ whom Carolus and Cassius praise very much