Long Sentences
A long sentence joins several clauses, and each clause keeps its own verb.
How It Works
A long Occitan sentence is built from short clauses. Split it at the joining words and read one clause at a time.
| Clause | Joiner | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| L'amiga ... m'a dich | (none) | m'a dich (main) |
| que ven de Tolosa | que (who) | ven |
| que lo tren arribariá tard | que (that) | arribariá |
The sentence is L'amiga que ven de Tolosa m'a dich que lo tren arribariá tard. (My friend who is coming from Toulouse told me that the train would arrive late.) The first que means who and opens a clause about the friend. The second que means that and opens what she said.
Other joiners: ont (where), çò que (what, that which), mas (but), e (and) and quand (when). A clause that starts with que, ont or çò que depends on another clause. The main clauses are the ones that can stand alone.
In writing, a comma often marks the end of a clause. If you lose track, count the verbs: a sentence with three verbs has three clauses.
Examples (5)
- L'ostal ont demòri es pichòt, mas es plan polit.
The house where I live is small, but very pretty.
Ont opens one clause, and mas joins a third.
- L'amiga que ven de Tolosa m'a dich que lo tren arribariá tard.
My friend who is coming from Toulouse told me that the train would arrive late.
Two que clauses: who is coming, and what she said.
- Çò que Joan m'a dich es verai, mas Maria o sap pas encara.
What Joan told me is true, but Maria does not know it yet.
Çò que opens the subject, and mas joins the contrast.
- Quand arribèrem a Besièrs, lo solelh se levava e las carrièras èran ja plenas de monde.
When we arrived in Béziers, the sun was rising and the streets were already full of people.
Quand sets the time, and e joins two more clauses.
- Lo libre que Maria a crompat es sul lièch, mas Joan sap pas ont es.
The book that Maria bought is on the bed, but Joan does not know where it is.
Que, mas and ont join four clauses.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Long sentences combine relative clauses, reported speech and quand clauses, so those come first.
- çò queWhat and That Which
Know çò que, because long sentences often open with a relative clause: Çò que Joan m'a dich es verai.
Level 3 - dire queReported Statements
Know reported statements, because they add a second clause: L'amiga que ven de Tolosa m'a dich que lo tren arribariá tard.
Level 3 - quandWhen Clauses
Know quand clauses, because they add a time clause: Quand arribèrem a Besièrs.
Level 2
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
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