Language/Armenian/Grammar/Relative-Clauses

Armenian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Relative Clauses

Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Armenian Course"! Today, we will delve into an important aspect of Armenian grammar: relative clauses. Understanding relative clauses is essential for forming complex sentences, allowing you to convey more detailed and nuanced information about people, places, and things in Armenian.

In this lesson, we will cover:

• What relative clauses are and their function in sentences

• How to form relative clauses in Armenian

• Examples to illustrate usage in various contexts

• Practice exercises to reinforce your understanding

So, let’s jump into the world of relative clauses, where we can expand our sentence-building skills and make our conversations much richer!

What are Relative Clauses?

A relative clause is a part of a sentence that describes a noun. It gives more information about that noun and is often introduced by a relative pronoun. In English, relative clauses typically start with words like "who," "which," or "that."

In Armenian, the structure is somewhat similar, but we use specific relative pronouns. For instance, the Armenian equivalent of "who" is "ով" (ov), "which" is "որ" (or), and "that" is also "որ" (or).

Formation of Relative Clauses in Armenian

Relative clauses in Armenian can be formed using the following structure:

1. Identify the noun you want to describe.

2. Use the appropriate relative pronoun to introduce the clause.

3. Provide additional information about the noun.

Here’s the basic structure:

• Main Clause + Relative Pronoun + Relative Clause

Let's take a closer look at each relative pronoun:

The Pronoun "Ով" (ov)

"Ով" (ov) is used for people. It translates to "who" in English.

The Pronoun "Որ" (or)

"Որ" (or) is used for things or animals, translating to "which" or "that."

Examples of Relative Clauses

To illustrate how relative clauses work, let’s look at some examples. The following table presents various sentences that utilize relative clauses in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
մարդը, ով այստեղ է	mardə, ov ayshtɛg e	The person who is here
շունը, որը խաղում է	shunə, orə xahum e	The dog that is playing
աղջիկը, ով երգում է	aghjɪkə, ov jɛrɡum e	The girl who is singing
տունը, որը մեծ է	tunə, orə mɛdz e	The house that is big
տղամարդը, ով գալիս է	tʕəɣmardə, ov galis e	The man who is coming
մեքենան, որը արագ է	mɛkʰeɪnan, orə arɑɡ e	The car that is fast
ուսուցիչը, ով լավ է	usucʕitʰə, ov lav e	The teacher who is good
գիրքը, որը կարդում եմ	girkə, orə kʰɑrdum ɛm	The book that I am reading
երեխան, ով խաղում է	ɛrəxan, ov xahum e	The child who is playing
ծաղիկը, որը գեղեցիկ է	ts'aghikə, orə ɡɛɡɛts'ɪk e	The flower that is beautiful

Usage of Relative Clauses

Relative clauses can be used in various contexts. Here are a few situations where they are particularly useful:

• Describing a person: When you want to provide more details about someone.

• Describing an object: When you want to explain the characteristics of an item.

• Giving additional context: When you need to clarify or expand upon a statement.

In Armenian, the use of relative clauses can significantly enhance the clarity and depth of your sentences, making your communication more effective.

Practice Exercises

Now that we've covered the theory, it’s time to practice! Below are some exercises designed to help you apply what you've learned about relative clauses.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the relative pronoun ("ով" or "որ").

1. Սա ___ ուսուցիչն է: (This is the teacher.)

2. Նա ___ երգում է: (He is the one who sings.)

3. Քաղաքը ___ սիրուն է: (The city that is beautiful.)

4. Աղջիկը ___ այստեղ է: (The girl who is here.)

5. Դա ___ մեքենան է: (That is the car.)

Solutions for Exercise 1

1. Սա որ ուսուցիչն է:

2. Նա ով երգում է:

3. Քաղաքը որ սիրուն է:

4. Աղջիկը ով այստեղ է:

5. Դա որ մեքենան է:

Exercise 2: Convert Simple Sentences

Transform the following simple sentences into sentences that include relative clauses.

1. The boy is playing.

2. The book is interesting.

3. The teacher is explaining.

4. The dog is barking.

5. The flowers are blooming.

Solutions for Exercise 2

1. The boy who is playing is happy. (Աղջիկը, ով խաղում է, ուրախ է.)

2. The book that is interesting is on the table. (Գիրքը, որը հետաքրքիր է, սեղանին է.)

3. The teacher who is explaining is very kind. (Ուսուցիչը, ով բացատրում է, շատ բարի է.)

4. The dog that is barking is mine. (Շունը, որը գոռում է, իմն է.)

5. The flowers that are blooming are beautiful. (Ծաղիկները, որոնք բուրում են, գեղեցիկ են.)

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences

Using the nouns provided, create sentences using relative clauses.

1. (cat)

2. (friend)

3. (city)

4. (car)

5. (singer)

Solutions for Exercise 3

1. The cat that is sleeping is soft. (Կատուն, որը քնում է, փափուկ է.)

2. The friend who helps me is loyal. (Ընկերն, ով ինձ օգնում է, հավատարիմ է.)

3. The city that I love is vibrant. (Քաղաքը, որը սիրում եմ, աշխույժ է.)

4. The car that is red is fast. (Մեքենան, որը կարմիր է, արագ է.)

5. The singer who performs is famous. (Երգիչը, ով ելույթ է տալիս, հայտնի է.)

Exercise 4: Identify the Relative Clauses

Read the following sentences and identify the relative clauses.

1. The book that I borrowed is fascinating.

2. The person who called you is waiting.

3. The car that I bought is expensive.

4. The movie that we watched was thrilling.

5. The restaurant that serves Armenian food is popular.

Solutions for Exercise 4

1. that I borrowed

2. who called you

3. that I bought

4. that we watched

5. that serves Armenian food

Exercise 5: Write a Short Paragraph

Write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) using at least two relative clauses.

Example Solution for Exercise 5

Last weekend, I visited my friend who lives in Yerevan. We went to a restaurant that serves traditional Armenian food. The food that we tried was delicious. After lunch, we walked around the city which is full of history. I had a wonderful time!

Conclusion

In this lesson, we've explored the fascinating world of relative clauses in Armenian. By understanding how to form and use these clauses, you can add depth to your communication and express yourself more clearly. Remember, practice is key to mastering this aspect of grammar, so keep using relative clauses in your conversations.

As you continue your journey in learning Armenian, don't hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher on relative clauses. Happy studying, and see you in the next lesson!

Table of Contents - Armenian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Armenian Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Yes/No Questions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time, Manner, and Place

  ---

Armenian Traditions and Customs

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

Sources

• 5+ Useful Armenian Pronouns Categories - Ling App
• Relative clauses in colloquial Armenian: Syntax and typology

Other Lessons

• Asking Questions
• Indefinite Article
• Word Order
• Definite Pronouns
• Imperative Mood
• Obligatory Mood Past Obligatory
• The Ablative Case
• Nouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• How to Use Have