Pronoun: Relative

MorphologyPronoun – Relative singular

• The forms are based on the 2nd declension (masc/neut) and 1st declension (fem) endings
• The neut nom/acc forms have no final ν (like the article τό)
• Accenting rules
• Not an enclitic or proclitic

fromLesson 24.3

MorphologyPronoun – Relative plural

• pl relative pronouns follow the same rules as sg ones (see 24.3.3.1):
• 2nd declension endings in masc/neut, and 1st declension endings in fem
• Always have an accent and a rough breathing

fromLesson 25.3

SyntaxPronoun – Relative

Relative pronouns were introduced in 19.4.3 with ὅπου where we described them as introducing a clause that modifies a noun. Whereas ὅπου only modifies locations, the relative pronouns with ὅς can modify nouns of any kind, but the case, gender, and number have certain agreement patterns:

• (213) ἡ γυνὴ ἥν Παῦλος ἐβάπτισεν ἦλθεν The woman whom Paul baptized came

The relative pronoun ἥν begins the relative clause, which is ἥν Παῦλος ἐβάπτισεν. This modifies the noun ἡ γυνὴ. The gender and number of the relative pronoun agree with the noun it modifies–both γυνὴ and ἥν are fem sg. However, the case of the relative pronoun is usually determined not by the case of the noun it modifies, but by the case of the grammatical function of the relative pronoun within the subordinate clause. In the subordinate clause ἥν Παῦλος ἐβάπτισεν ‘whom Paul baptized,’ the verb ἐβάπτισεν takes an accusative argument, so the pronoun ἥν is in accusative case and is functioning as an object of ἐβάπτισεν within the relative clause itself.

fromLesson 24.3

SyntaxPronoun – Relative (Restrictive vs. nonrestrictive)

Relative clauses are commonly divided into two main syntactic classes: restrictive or nonrestrictive. Nonrestrictive relative clauses are not essential to determining the referent of the noun they are modifying. For example, we can say something like The boy, who ate all the pizza, just left. The relative clause who ate all the pizza is nonrestrictive and is set off by commas. The inference is that there is only one relevant boy in the context, and he happened to be the one to eat all the pizza. In contrast, the same sentence can be given with a restrictive relative clause as The boy who ate all the pizza just left. Without the pause represented by the commas, this relative clause is restrictive. The inference here is that there may be multiple boys in the relevant location, but the one who just left is the one who ate all the pizza. To determine which boy is being referred to, you need to know who ate all the pizza. In the nonrestrictive case, you don’t need to know that the boy ate all the pizza to pick him out as a referent. There is only one relevant boy in the context, and he left.

Because printed Greek NTs use commas, we see the same convention at work, though the commas represent the interpretation of the editors. A nonrestrictive relative clause is normally set off by commas, whereas restrictive relative clauses are not:

fromLesson 25.3

SemanticsPronoun – Relative

Relative clauses are like adjectives in that they modify nouns. The two sentences Τὸ ὑψηλὸν τέκνον ἔφαγεν ἄρτον and Τὸ τέκνον ὅ ἐστι ὑψηλὸν ἔφαγεν ἄρτον are essentially equivalent. Both ‘the tall child’ and ‘the child who is tall’ refer to the same kind of child–a tall one. This is the most basic function of a relative clause, to further describe the noun it modifies.

fromLesson 24.3