Language/Romanian/Grammar/Relative-Pronouns-and-Clauses
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we will delve into the intricacies of relative pronouns and clauses in Romanian. Relative pronouns are essential for connecting different parts of a sentence and providing additional information about a noun or pronoun. Understanding how to use and distinguish between various types of relative pronouns and clauses is crucial for achieving fluency in Romanian.
Throughout this lesson, we will explore the different types of relative pronouns and clauses, their usage, and their placement within sentences. We will provide numerous examples to illustrate each point and ensure clarity and comprehension. Additionally, we will examine any regional variations in the usage of relative pronouns and explore interesting cultural facts related to this topic.
By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of relative pronouns and clauses in Romanian, allowing you to construct more complex and nuanced sentences.
Relative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Relative pronouns are words that connect a dependent clause to a main clause and refer to a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They introduce additional information about the noun or pronoun, providing more details or describing it in some way. In Romanian, there are several relative pronouns that serve different purposes and are used in specific contexts.
Care[edit | edit source]
The most commonly used relative pronoun in Romanian is "care." It is versatile and can refer to both people and things. "Care" is used when the noun it refers to is the subject of the relative clause.
Examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Am o prietenă care cântă foarte bine. | Am o prietenă care cântă foarte bine. | I have a friend who sings very well. |
| Am o cărțulie care este foarte interesantă. | Am o cărțulie care este foarte interesantă. | I have a book that is very interesting. |
In the examples above, "care" connects the main clause (Am o prietenă/Am o cărțulie) with the relative clause (care cântă foarte bine/care este foarte interesantă).
Cine[edit | edit source]
The relative pronoun "cine" is used when referring to people and acts as both the subject and object of the relative clause.
Examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Acesta este omul cu cine am vorbit. | Acesta este omul cu cine am vorbit. | This is the person who I spoke with. |
| Acesta este băiatul pe cine l-am ajutat. | Acesta este băiatul pe cine l-am ajutat. | This is the boy whom I helped. |
In the examples above, "cine" connects the main clause (Acesta este omul/Acesta este băiatul) with the relative clause (cu cine am vorbit/pe cine l-am ajutat).
Care/careia/cărora[edit | edit source]
The relative pronoun "care" can also have different forms depending on the gender and number of the noun it refers to. When referring to feminine singular nouns, "care" becomes "careia," and when referring to feminine plural nouns, it becomes "cărora." These forms are used when the noun it refers to is the object of the relative clause.
Examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Aceasta este femeia căreia i-am dat flori. | Aceasta este femeia căreia i-am dat flori. | This is the woman to whom I gave flowers. |
| Acestea sunt prietenele cărora le-am spus secretul. | Acestea sunt prietenele cărora le-am spus secretul. | These are the friends to whom I told the secret. |
In the examples above, "careia" and "cărora" connect the main clause (Aceasta este femeia/Acestea sunt prietenele) with the relative clause (căreia i-am dat flori/cărora le-am spus secretul).
Ce[edit | edit source]
The relative pronoun "ce" is used when referring to things and acts as the subject of the relative clause.
Examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Am cumpărat tot ce aveam nevoie. | Am cumpărat tot ce aveam nevoie. | I bought everything I needed. |
| Nu știu ce să fac. | Nu știu ce să fac. | I don't know what to do. |
In the examples above, "ce" connects the main clause (Am cumpărat/Nu știu) with the relative clause (tot ce aveam nevoie/ce să fac).
Al cărui/al cărei/al căror/al căror[edit | edit source]
The relative pronoun "al cărui" (masculine singular), "al cărei" (feminine singular), "al căror" (masculine plural), and "al căror" (feminine plural) are used to indicate possession and agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.
Examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Cartea al cărei autor este celebru. | Cartea al cărei autor este celebru. | The book whose author is famous. |
| Copiii al căror părinte este medic. | Copiii al căror părinte este medic. | The children whose parent is a doctor. |
In the examples above, "al cărui," "al cărei," "al căror," and "al căror" connect the main clause (Cartea/Copiii) with the relative clause (al cărei autor este celebru/al căror părinte este medic).
Relative Clauses[edit | edit source]
Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are introduced by relative pronouns and can be either restrictive or non-restrictive.
Restrictive Relative Clauses[edit | edit source]
Restrictive relative clauses provide essential information about the noun or pronoun and cannot be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence. They are usually introduced by the relative pronouns "care," "cine," and "ce."
Example:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Am vizitat țara în care m-am născut. | Am vizitat țara în care m-am născut. | I visited the country where I was born. |
In the example above, the restrictive relative clause "în care m-am născut" provides essential information about the noun "țara."
Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses[edit | edit source]
Non-restrictive relative clauses provide additional, non-essential information about the noun or pronoun and can be omitted without changing the core meaning of the sentence. They are usually introduced by the relative pronoun "care." Non-restrictive relative clauses are set off by commas.
Example:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Maria, care este profesoară, a câștigat un premiu. | Maria, care este profesoară, a câștigat un premiu. | Maria, who is a teacher, won an award. |
In the example above, the non-restrictive relative clause "care este profesoară" provides additional information about the noun "Maria."
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Romanian culture places a strong emphasis on family and community, which is reflected in the language. In Romanian, it is common to use relative pronouns and clauses to express important familial relationships and connections. For example, when introducing someone, Romanians often include information about the person's family, such as "Este fiul/fiica lui X" (He/She is the son/daughter of X). This highlights the importance of family ties and lineage within Romanian society.
Romania also has a rich tradition of folklore and storytelling, where relative pronouns and clauses play a significant role. Folk tales often use relative clauses to provide vivid descriptions of characters or to introduce magical elements into the narrative. Learning about these cultural aspects can enrich your understanding and appreciation of the Romanian language.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now, let's put your knowledge of relative pronouns and clauses into practice with the following exercises:
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the appropriate relative pronoun: "care," "cine," "ce," "careia," "cărora," "al cărui," "al cărei," "al căror," or "al căror."
1. Este casa __ am visat toată viața mea. 2. Acesta este băiatul __ am vorbit ieri. 3. Copiii __ părinții sunt actori participă la spectacol. 4. Acesta este omul __ am spus secretul. 5. Aceasta este femeia __ am dat flori. 6. Am cumpărat tot __ aveam nevoie. 7. Cartea __ autor este celebru a fost tradusă în mai multe limbi. 8. Prietenii __ i-am întâlnit în vacanță locuiesc în străinătate. 9. Copiii __ părinte este medic se gândesc să urmeze aceeași carieră. 10. Acesta este locul __ am petrecut cele mai frumoase momente.
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences from English to Romanian, using the appropriate relative pronoun and clause.
1. The book that I'm reading is very interesting. 2. This is the girl who won the competition. 3. The man whose car is red is my neighbor. 4. I don't know what he said. 5. The restaurant where we ate last night has excellent food.
Solutions[edit | edit source]
Exercise 1: 1. Este casa la care am visat toată viața mea. 2. Acesta este băiatul cu care am vorbit ieri. 3. Copiii ale căror părinți sunt actori participă la spectacol. 4. Acesta este omul căruia i-am spus secretul. 5. Aceasta este femeia căreia i-am dat flori. 6. Am cumpărat tot ce aveam nevoie. 7. Cartea al cărei autor este celebru a fost tradusă în mai multe limbi. 8. Prietenii pe care i-am întâlnit în vacanță locuiesc în străinătate. 9. Copiii al căror părinte este medic se gândesc să urmeze aceeași carieră. 10. Acesta este locul unde am petrecut cele mai frumoase momente.
Exercise 2: 1. Cartea pe care o citesc este foarte interesantă. 2. Aceasta este fata care a câștigat competiția. 3. Omul al cărui mașină este roșie este vecinul meu. 4. Nu știu ce a spus el. 5. Restaurantul unde am mâncat ieri seara are mâncare excelentă.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have successfully learned about relative pronouns and clauses in Romanian. These linguistic tools will greatly enhance your ability to construct more complex sentences and convey additional information. Remember to practice using relative pronouns and clauses in your conversations and written exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Continue to explore the fascinating world of Romanian grammar and vocabulary in the upcoming lessons of the "Complete 0 to A1 Romanian Course." Happy learning!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Dative Case in Romanian
- Greetings in Romanian
- Possessive Case in Romanian
- How to use the Modal Verb “Must” in Romanian
- Advanced Verb Tenses
- Future Tense
- Definite Articles in Romanian
- Conditional Mood
- Cases