What are Relative Pronouns?
Relative pronouns are words that introduce relative clauses, that is, dependent clauses that modify an item that is present in the main clause of a sentence.
In other words, a relative pronoun links two sentences together to provide additional yet essential information, making the sentence more specific and informative.
Relative pronouns are mainly used to:
- combine two sentences in order to reduce repetitions improving sentence flow.
- introduce essential details about the noun they relate to, adding depth and context.
- clarify which specific person or thing you are talking about.
Have a look at these two sentences below:
Ieri ho visto uno spettacolo. Lo spettacolo è stato incredibile.
Yesterday I watched a show. The show was incredible!
The two sentences above have one element in common: lo spettacolo (the show). It is a direct object of the first sentence as well as the subject of the second one. We can connect the two sentences with the Italian relative pronoun che:
Lo spettacolo che ho visto ieri è stato incredibile.
The show that I watched yesterday was incredible.
Types of Relative Pronouns
Variable vs Invariable
Italian grammar differentiates Italian relative pronouns based on their grammatical behavior, resulting in two main types: invariable and variable relative pronouns.
Invariable relative pronouns, of course, do not vary. This means that there is one form only that does not change depending on the gender nor the number of the noun they refer to.
English invariable relative pronouns are “who“, “which“, and “that“, while Italian invariable relative pronouns areche, equivalent to “who”, “that”, and “which”, and cui,whose translation depends on the preposition it is linked to.
Variable relative pronouns, instead, vary according to the gender and the number of the noun they refer to, like “quale” when preceded by a definite article as in:
La ragazza, la quale vive accanto a me, è molto amichevole.
The girl, who lives next to me, is very friendly.
Personal Distinction Made Easier
As a linguist, I like to deeply analyze grammar topics in order to provide clear and straightforward explanations of language patterns, so let me give you my personal distinction of Italian relative pronouns.
- Relative pronouns used with transitive verbs
These pronouns in Italian are “che” and “quale” when preceded by a definite article and require no prepositions.
Lo ragazza che hai incontrato è mia sorella.
The girl who you met is my sister.
La ragazza la quale hai incontrato è mia sorella.
The girl who you met is my sister.
- Relative pronouns used with intransitive verbs
These pronouns in Italian are “cui” and “quale” preceded by a definite article and do require prepositions.
La ragazza con la quale stai cantando è mia sorella.
The girl you are singing with is my sister.
La ragazza con cui stai cantando è mia sorella.
The girl you are singing with is my sister.
How to use Relative Pronouns in Italian
Che
We use the relative pronoun “che” to substitute a subject or a direct object. While in English we have three different alternatives depending on whether the noun is a person, animal, or object, in Italian there is one form only.
Il cane che sta abbaiando è di mio cugino.
The dog that is barking is my cousin’s.
Here che takes the place of a subject: il cane.
La ragazza che hai visto con Luca è mia sorella.
The girl that you saw with Luca is my sister.
Here, che takes the place of a direct object: la ragazza.
Cui
The Italian cui substitutes an indirect object, therefore, it can take various prepositions, and depending on which, it can have many different translations.
Questo è il ristorante di cui ti ho parlato.
This is the restaurant that I talked to you about.
Here we use di cui because the verb is parlare di qualcosa (to talk about something.)
L’azienda per cui lavoro è chiusa per ferie.
The company I work for is closed for vacation.
Here we use per cui because the verb is lavorare per qualcuno (to work for someone).
We can also use the relative pronoun cui preceded by an article to join two related sentences to express a form of possession. In this case, it can be translated as whose.
Giulia, la cui sorella lavora con me, ha la mia età.
Giulia, whose sister works with me, is my age.
Quel cane, i cui padroni sono Giorgio e Marta, da cucciolo era bellissimo.
That dog, whose owners are Giorgio and Marta, was very cute as a puppy.
Remember, when using this form, that the article has to agree with the object in possession!
Relative Pronouns to Improve Your Skills
Trust me, understanding Italian relative pronouns can really boost your language skills and make you more fluent. From what you’ve seen through the different examples I gave you, it’s clear that these tools are very useful, both in casual or formal settings.
Using relative pronouns well can help you communicate more clearly and smoothly, giving a more natural and expressive touch to your Italian skills.
Practice daily to master the use of these small yet very informative words!
