Catalan Grammar: Relative Clauses and Verb Usage

Relative Clauses in Catalan Grammar

Relative pronouns introduce subordinate clauses. They relate to a substantive element and its antecedent. Examples include: who (el qui parla francès que ens ajudi), when (quan cantaves encara no plovia), how (voldreu pintar l'habitació com...), and where (on es troba on Crist va perdre...) with a relative antecedent.

Specificative Relatives

These are used without a preposition: that (que he vist en la pel·lícula val molt), how (m'agrada la manera com ho veus), or where (el país on sé que no plou). With a preposition: where (en què la moral i reflexions molt antigues són), who (la parella que ha vingut amb qui balles sempre), which (fa un pa del qual l'aroma m'és sensacional), or where (la conversa no anava on l'àvia volia dinar).

Explicative Relatives

These are used without a preposition: that (el públic que està expectant omple la sala), which (ara em parlen del llibre, el qual està exhaurit), how (d'etiqueta era com una tradició), or where (vam anar al castell a pujar, on vam fer tres fotos). With a preposition: where (de l'època dels meus avis, quan no n'hi havia TV, era millor), who (l'actriu, de qui em parlaves l'altre dia, s'ha casat), which (compro un iot, del qual no en sé el preu), or where (a l'estadi on et vaig enviar un SMS).

Grammar Rules for Relatives

1. In explicative clauses, do not use qui (who) alone; use el qual (which) instead.
2. The forms el qual, on, and en què are not used in specificative clauses without a preposition.
3. After prepositions such as en, amb, per, and a, we can use què and qui, but not after tonic prepositions.
4. Repetition can occur.
5. Weak pronouns can be relative to the same element.
6. The possessive value is not used in cases like "whose"; instead, relative constructions are used.

Verb Forms: Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerund: Used in periphrastic constructions like continuar + gerundi, anar + gerundi, and estar + gerundi to indicate continuity. Anteposing the gerund to the principal action is also grammatically correct.

Infinitive: Common structures include haver de + infinitiu, infinitiu + caldre, cal que + subjuntiu (e.g., cal que prengui), necessitar + infinitiu, deure + infinitiu, and ser que + subjuntiu (e.g., és que arribarà a les deu). You can also use poder + verb (not in subjunctive) after an infinitive. Note: It is precise to put others to boys; the article is not admitted before an infinitive if its function is a noun.

The Uses of the Word "Que"

1. Conjunction

The word que acts as a conjunction without a preposition or article (e.g., li vaig dir que vingués). It can have a final value (perquè, meaning "so that") or a causal value (perquè, meaning "as" or "since").

2. Other Categories

• Substantive: El perquè (used with an article).
• Exclamative: Que used before adjectives and adverbs.
• Adverbial and Conjunction: Always introduces a substantive subordinate clause (e.g., en cas que).
• Interrogative: Què (e.g., Què dius?).
• Relative: On (where), which introduces a subordinate adjective clause.

Distinguishing Ser and Estar

1. Circumstantial Presence: Use estar for location/presence (trobar-se) without time; use ser (era) when time is involved.
2. Permanence: Use estar for living or staying in a place.
3. Ser: Used to reach a destination or state.
4. Copulative Sentences: Use ser/serà for inanimate objects, but if there is no time, use estar.
5. Transient States: Use estar for the transient states of a person.
6. Inherent Qualities: Use ser when applied to an adjective that defines the subject (e.g., aquests pantalons són llargs).