Relative Pronoun: quem, quam, cuius, cui
Look at the clause, not at the noun, to pick the case.
How It Works
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | qui | quae | quod | qui, quae, quae |
| genitive | cuius | cuius | cuius | quorum, quarum, quorum |
| dative | cui | cui | cui | quibus |
| accusative | quem | quam | quod | quos, quas, quae |
| ablative | quo | qua | quo | quibus |
In amicus cuius liber est bonus, the friend is masculine and singular, but cuius is genitive because the friend owns the book.
To pick the case, ask what the pronoun does in its own clause. A subject gives qui, quae, quod. An object gives quem, quam, quod. An owner gives cuius. A person who receives something gives cui.
Examples (5)
- Puella quam video Iulia est.
The girl whom I see is Iulia.
Quam is feminine and accusative: the girl is what I see.
- Amicus cuius liber bonus est Marcus est.
The friend whose book is good is Marcus.
Cuius is genitive: it means whose.
- Puer cui librum do Quintus est.
The boy to whom I give a book is Quintus.
Cui is dative: I give the book to him.
- Libros quos habes legere cupio.
I want to read the books that you have.
Quos is masculine plural and accusative: the books are what you have.
- Ecclesia, quam amamus, magna est.
The church, which we love, is big.
Quam is feminine and accusative: we love the church.
Common Mistakes
Copying the case of the noun.
Puella quae video Iulia est.Puella quam video Iulia est.Quae is nominative. In its clause the girl is what I see, so the pronoun is accusative: quam.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The relative changes its case with its job in its own clause.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Relative Pronoun: quem, quam, cuius, cui in Bubblegum
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