Latin 101

Sentences with relative clauses have subordinated sentence structure. This means that the sentence has two parts, the main clause, which can stand alone as a sentence, and a second clause that modifies some word in the main clause. The subordinated clause has a verb, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence (hence it is the "subordinate" clause). For example:

The man who came from Rome was brave. [Vir qui vënit ab Römä fortis fuit.]

The main clause is:

The man was brave [Vir fortis fuit.]

The subordinate clause is:

who came from Rome [qui vënit ab Römä].

The main clause can stand alone as a sentence. The subordinate clause cannot. Instead, it is connected to the main clause by a relative [called so because it "relates" the two clauses to each other].

If you're having trouble with relative clauses, try the following method to untangle the sentence. First, bracket off the subordinate clause. Second, translate the main clause. Third, translate the subordinate clause. Finally, put the two together. E.g.

Femina litteräs cuius lëgimus bella erat.

1. Femina (litteräs cuius lëgimus) bella erat.
2. Femina bella erat - The woman was beautiful.
3. litteräs cuius lëgimus - whose letter (the letter of whom) we read
4. The woman whose letter we read was beautiful.

Vir cui libellum mittam urbem dëlëvit.

1. Vir (cui libellum mittam) urbem dëlëvit.
2. Vir urbem dëlëvit. - The man destroyed the city.
3. cui libellum mittam - to whom I will send the booklet.
4. The man to whom I will send the booklet destroyed the city.