How to Use Greek Relative Clauses in Everyday Conversation

Understanding Greek Relative Clauses

Relative clauses in Greek are used to provide more information about a noun, similar to English. They often begin with relative pronouns like που (who, which, that), ο οποίος (who, which), and others.

Common Relative Pronouns in Greek

• που (pou) – who, which, that
• ο οποίος (o opoios) – who, which
• η οποία (i opoia) – who, which (feminine)
• το οποίο (to opoio) – which (neuter)
• όπου (opou) – where

The most frequently used relative pronoun is που, which is versatile and can refer to people, things, or places.

Forming Relative Clauses with 'που'

To form a relative clause, place the relative pronoun after the noun it describes, followed by the verb and additional information. For example:

• Ο άντρας που μιλάει είναι δάσκαλος. (The man who is speaking is a teacher.)
• Το βιβλίο που διαβάζω είναι ενδιαφέρον. (The book that I am reading is interesting.)

Using 'ο οποίος' and Its Variants

The pronoun ο οποίος and its feminine and neuter forms agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to and are often used in more formal contexts.

• Η γυναίκα η οποία ήρθε είναι φίλη μου. (The woman who came is my friend.)
• Τα παιδιά τα οποία παίζουν είναι χαρούμενα. (The children who are playing are happy.)

Relative Clauses Indicating Place: 'όπου'

The relative adverb όπου means 'where' and is used to refer to places.

• Το σπίτι όπου μεγάλωσα είναι όμορφο. (The house where I grew up is beautiful.)

Tips for Using Greek Relative Clauses

• Remember that που is the most common and versatile relative pronoun.
• Use ο οποίος and its forms for formal writing or to add clarity.
• Match the gender and number of ο οποίος with the noun it refers to.
• Use όπου to refer to places in relative clauses.