Understanding Greek Relative Pronouns and Their Uses for English Speakers

What Are Relative Pronouns in Greek?

Relative pronouns in Greek are words that introduce relative clauses, which provide more information about a noun mentioned earlier in the sentence. They connect the main clause to the relative clause, similar to English words like "who," "which," or "that."

Common Greek Relative Pronouns and Their Meanings

The most frequently used Greek relative pronouns include:

• που (pou) – who, which, that
• ο οποίος (o opoíos) – who, which, that (more formal)
• ότι (óti) – that (used as a conjunction)

Using 'που' (pou) as a Relative Pronoun

The relative pronoun που is the most common and versatile in Greek. It can refer to people, animals, or things and is used in both subject and object positions within the relative clause.

Example: Ο άντρας που μιλάει είναι δάσκαλος. (The man who is speaking is a teacher.)

The Formal Relative Pronoun: 'ο οποίος' (o opoíos)

For more formal or precise language, Greek uses the relative pronoun ο οποίος and its variations, which agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer to.

Example: Η γυναίκα, η οποία ήρθε χθες, είναι γιατρός. (The woman, who came yesterday, is a doctor.)

Agreement of 'ο οποίος' with the Antecedent

• Masculine singular: ο οποίος
• Feminine singular: η οποία
• Neuter singular: το οποίο
• Masculine plural: οι οποίοι
• Feminine plural: οι οποίες
• Neuter plural: τα οποία

Using Relative Pronouns in Different Cases

Greek relative pronouns change form depending on their grammatical case (nominative, genitive, accusative) within the relative clause. For example, with 'ο οποίος':

• Nominative masculine singular: ο οποίος
• Genitive masculine singular: του οποίου
• Accusative masculine singular: τον οποίο

This agreement helps clarify the role of the relative pronoun in the sentence.

Examples of Relative Clauses in Greek

Here are some examples showing relative pronouns in action:

• Το βιβλίο που διαβάζω είναι ενδιαφέρον. (The book that I am reading is interesting.)
• Ο φίλος, ο οποίος μένει εδώ, είναι πολύ καλός. (The friend, who lives here, is very good.)
• Η πόλη όπου γεννήθηκα είναι όμορφη. (The city where I was born is beautiful.)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Greek Relative Pronouns

English speakers should note that Greek relative pronouns often agree in gender, number, and case with their antecedents, unlike English where relative pronouns are invariable. Also, the use of που is very common and can often replace more formal pronouns in everyday speech.

Practice by identifying relative clauses in Greek texts and try forming your own sentences using που and ο οποίος.