Language/Romanian/Grammar/Relative-Pronouns-and-Clauses

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Romanian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Relative Pronouns and Clauses

In the Romanian language, relative pronouns and clauses play a crucial role in sentence structure and meaning. They allow us to provide additional information about nouns, making our sentences more descriptive and informative. Mastering these elements not only enhances your grammatical skills but also enriches your ability to communicate effectively in Romanian.

In this lesson, we will explore the various types of relative pronouns in Romanian, how they are used to form relative clauses, and their significance in sentence construction. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use relative pronouns confidently, adding depth to your conversations.

Here's what we will cover:

Definition of relative pronouns and clauses

Types of relative pronouns in Romanian

Examples of how to use these pronouns in sentences

Exercises to practice your understanding

What are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns are used to link clauses or phrases to a noun or pronoun. They help to provide additional information about that noun. In Romanian, the most common relative pronouns are "care", "ce", "cât", and "cine". Let’s break these down:

"Care"

"Care" is the most versatile relative pronoun and can mean "who," "which," or "that." It agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to.

"Ce"

"Ce" is used more colloquially and translates to "what" or "that." It is less formal and often used in spoken Romanian.

"Cât"

"Cât" typically translates to "as much as" or "how much" and is used in specific contexts, especially in comparisons.

"Cine"

"Cine" translates to "who" and is used specifically for people.

Examples of Relative Pronouns

Let’s look at examples of each relative pronoun in context.

Romanian	Pronunciation	English
Fata care cântă este prietena mea.	[ˈfata ˈka.re ˈkɨn.tə ˈjes.te priˈe.te.na ˈme.a]	The girl who sings is my friend.
Cartea pe care o citesc este interesantă.	[ˈkar.te.a pe ˈka.re o t͡ʃiˈte.sk ˈjes.te in.te.reˈsan.tə]	The book that I am reading is interesting.
Ce ai spus este adevărat.	[t͡ʃe aj spus ˈjes.te a.deˈva.rat]	What you said is true.
Cât costă acea rochie?	[kɨt ˈkos.tə aˈt͡ʃa ˈro.ki.e]	How much does that dress cost?
Cine a venit la petrecere?	[ˈt͡ʃi.ne a veˈnit la peˈtre.t͡ʃe.re]	Who came to the party?

Forming Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are dependent clauses that modify a noun and usually begin with a relative pronoun. They provide additional information about that noun in the main clause.

For example:

Main Clause: "Eu am un prieten." (I have a friend.)

Relative Clause: "care locuiește în București." (who lives in Bucharest.)

Combined: "Eu am un prieten care locuiește în București." (I have a friend who lives in Bucharest.)

Summary of Key Points

"Care": used for people and things

"Ce": used informally

"Cât": used in comparisons

"Cine": used specifically for people

Now that we understand the theoretical part, let's move on to some exercises to practice what we've learned.

Exercises and Practice Scenarios

Here are ten exercises to help you apply your knowledge of relative pronouns and clauses:

Exercise 1

Translate the following sentences into Romanian using a relative pronoun:

1. The man who is speaking is my father.

2. The book that I bought is on the table.

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct relative pronoun (care, ce, cât, cine):

1. __________ este profesoara ta?

2. Am un câine __________ iubește copiii.

Exercise 3

Combine the following sentences using relative clauses:

1. I have a sister. She is a doctor.

2. This is the restaurant. We had dinner there.

Exercise 4

Identify the relative pronouns in the following sentences:

1. Aici este fata care a cântat.

2. Ce ai făcut este important.

Exercise 5

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Femeia care râde este fericită.

2. Câinele care latră este al meu.

Exercise 6

Create sentences using the following relative pronouns:

1. care

2. ce

3. cât

4. cine

Exercise 7

Rewrite the following sentences to include a relative clause:

1. I met a girl. She is from Cluj.

2. He is the teacher. I admire him.

Exercise 8

Match the Romanian sentences with their English translations:

1. Cartea pe care o citesc este veche.

2. Cine a venit ieri?

| Romanian Sentence | English Translation |

|---|---|

| A. Who came yesterday? | B. The book that I am reading is old. |

Exercise 9

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentences:

1. Fata __________ a cântat este talentată. (care/ce)

2. __________ ai spus e corect. (Cât/Ce)

Exercise 10

Describe an object in your house using a relative clause. For example: "The lamp that is on the table is new."

Detailed Solutions and Explanations

Now, let’s go through the solutions to the exercises together.

Exercise 1 Solutions

1. Bărbatul care vorbește este tatăl meu.

2. Cartea pe care am cumpărat-o este pe masă.

Exercise 2 Solutions

1. Cine este profesoara ta?

2. Am un câine care iubește copiii.

Exercise 3 Solutions

1. Am o soră care este doctor.

2. Acesta este restaurantul unde am cinat.

Exercise 4 Solutions

1. "care"

2. "ce"

Exercise 5 Solutions

1. The woman who is laughing is happy.

2. The dog that is barking is mine.

Exercise 6 Solutions

1. Ex: Am un prieten care locuiește în București.

2. Ex: Nu știu ce se întâmplă.

3. Ex: Nu știu cât costă.

4. Ex: Cine vine la petrecere?

Exercise 7 Solutions

1. Am întâlnit o fată care este din Cluj.

2. El este profesorul pe care îl admir.

Exercise 8 Solutions

1. A-B

2. B-A

Exercise 9 Solutions

1. Fata care a cântat este talentată.

2. Ce ai spus e corect.

Exercise 10 Solutions

Students’ answers will vary. Encourage creativity!

By completing these exercises, you have not only practiced your understanding of relative pronouns and clauses but also gained confidence in using them in real-life contexts. Remember, the more you practice, the more natural it will feel!

As you continue your journey in learning Romanian, keep in mind the importance of these grammatical structures. They will be invaluable as you progress to more complex sentences and conversations.

Table of Contents - Romanian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Greetings and Introductions

Pronouns and Verbs

Numbers and Time

Adjectives and Adverbs

Family and Friends

Prepositions and Conjunctions

Food and Drinks

Questions and Negations

Locations and Directions

Plurals and Articles

Hobbies and Activities

Romanian Culture and Traditions

Imperatives and Requests

Travel and Transportation

Romanian Geography and History

Sources

Other Lessons

Contributors

Maintenance script

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