ADJECTIVE CLAUSES (RELATIVE CLAUSES: 2488-2573)
Up: Part IV: Syntax Previous: ADVERBIAL COMPLEX SENTENCES (2193-2487) Next: DEPENDENT SUBSTANTIVE CLAUSES (2574-2635)
2488
Relative clauses correspond to attributive adjectives (or participles), since like adjectives they serve to define substantives. Like adjectives, too, they often have the value of substantives and stand in any case.
δ̀ν γὰρ θεοὶ φιλοῦσιν ( = ὁ θεοφιλής), ἀποθνῄσκει νέος for whom the gods love, dies young Men. Sent. 425, ἦ θίγω δῆθ᾽ οἵ μ᾽ ἔφῡσαν; ( = τῶν με φῡσάντων) am I to embrace him who begat me? E. Ion 560, σὺν τοῖς θησαυροῖς οἷς ὁ πατὴρ κατέλιπεν ( = τοῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς καταλειφθεῖσι) with the treasures which my father left X. C. 3.1.33, ἐν αὐτοῖς οἷς ἐτῑμᾶσθε ( = ἐν αὐταῖς ταῖς τῑμαῖς) in the very honours which you received D. 19.238,
it shared with all what it receivedὧν ἔλαβεν ἅπᾱσι μετέδωκεν
2489
Relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns or by relative adverbs of time, place , or manner (cp. 340, 346), and refer to an antecedent expressed or implied in the main clause.
a. Temporal clauses, which are like relative clauses in many respects, have been treated in 2389 ff. On relatives used as indirect interrogatives and as exclamations, see 2668 ff., 2685 ff.
2490
Many relative clauses are equivalent to coördinate clauses (e.g. 2553). In such cases the relative has the force of a demonstrative or personal pronoun with a connective (καί, ἀλλά, δέ, γάρ, οὖν, ἄρα, etc.). Thus, πῶς οὖν ἂν ἔνοχος εἴη τῇ γραφῇ; ὃς ( = οὗτος γὰρ) . . .
how then could he be subject to the indictment? For he manifestly worshipped the godsφανερὸς ἦν θεραπεύων τοὺς θεούς
2491
A relative must often be resolved into a conjunction and a pronoun (2555).
2492
A truly subordinate relative clause may precede the main clause or be incorporated into it (2536). The relative clause is often made emphatic by placing after it the main clause with the demonstrative antecedent. Thus, ὅ τι βούλεται, τοῦτο ποιείτω whatever he wants, that let him do P. Eu. 285e.
2493
ὅς who and the other simple relatives (e.g. οἷος, ὅσος) refer to a particular and individual person or thing.
ἦν τις ἐν τῇ στρατιᾷ Ξενοφῶν Ἀθηναῖος, ὃς οὔτε στρατηγὸς οὔτε στρατιώτης ὢν συνηκολούθει there was in the army one Xenophon, an Athenian, who accompanied it though he was neither general nor soldier X. A. 3.1.4.
a. On the relation of the relative ὅς to the demonstrative ὅς, see 1113, 1114.
b. ὅς is often used instead of ὅστις (or οἷος) especially with ἄν or μή. Cp. 2508. ὅς whoever with the indicative generally adds (in prose) δή ποτε, δήποτ᾽ οὖν (339 e).
2494
ὅ (sometimes ἅ) at the beginning of a sentence may have the force of as to what (cp. quod), suggesting the matter to which it pertains.
as to what excited your envy of us—that we are able to benefit our friends—not even is this as you supposeδ̀ δ᾽ ἐζήλωσας ἡμᾶς, ὡς τοὺς μὲν φίλους . . . εὖ ποιεῖν δυνάμεθα . . ., οὐδὲ ταῦθ᾽ οὕτως ἔχει
a. An introductory relative clause with ὅ may stand in apposition to an entire clause that follows. Thus,
what is most wonderful, no one whatsoever ever saw Socrates drunkὅ πάντων θαυμαστότατον, Σωκράτη μεθύοντα οὐδεὶς πώποτε ἑώρᾱκεν ἀνθρώπων
2495
ὅσπερ the same as (qui quidem) is especially definite and denotes identity (338 c). ὅς γε (quippe qui) is causal (2555 a).
2496
ὅστις whoever and the other compound relatives (e.g. ὁποῖος, ὁπόσος) denote a person or thing in general, or mark the class, character, quality, or capacity of a person (less often of a thing).
happy is the man who possesses property and senseμακάριος ὅστις οὐσίᾱν καὶ νοῦν ἔχει
a. After a negative expressed or implied, ὅστις (not ὅς) is used because of its general meaning. So οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις, τίς ἐστιν ὅστις; οὐδείς ἐστιν ὅστις (rarely οὔτις ἐστὶν ὅς), πᾶς ὅστις (plural usually πάντες ὅσοι). Cp. 2557.
b. ἐξ ὅτου is common for ἐξ οὗ since. In Ionic (and Thuc. 6. 3) ὅστις is used of a definite object. Cp. Hdt. 1.7, 2. 99.
2497
οἷος of such sort as to, proper for, and ὅσος of such amount as to, enough for, denote result and commonly take the infinitive (negative μή).
καλόν τε (δοκεῖ) εἶναι ἡ ἐπιστήμη καὶ οἷον ἄρχειν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου knowledge seems to be both a noble thing and able to command man P. Prot. 352 c,
leaving himself only enough to tasteὅσον μόνον γεύσασθαι ἑαυτῷ καταλιπών
we shall be able to give counselσυμβουλεύειν οἷοί τ᾽ ἐσόμεθα
a. On clauses with οἷος or ὅσος following a main clause after which we supply a verb of reflection, see 2687.
b. ὅσος is used elliptically in ὅσαι ἡμέραι (ὁσημέραι) daily, ὅσα ἔτη yearly.
2498
Local clauses are introduced by the relative adverbs οὗ, ὅπου, ἔνθα, ἵνα (usually poetic, but sometimes in Plato) where, οἷ, ὅποι, ἔνθα whither, ὅθεν, ὁπόθεν, ἔνθεν whence, ᾗ, ὅπῃ which way, where, whither. ὅθι and ὁπόθι where are Epic and Lyric, ἧχι where is Epic. ἔνθα and ἔνθεν are also demonstratives (there, thence).
2499
With names of things the relative adverbs ἔνθα, ᾗ, ὅθεν, οἷ, οὗ are often used instead of the relative pronouns preceded by ἐν, εἰς, ἐξ. Thus, πλησίον ἦν ὁ σταθμὸς ἔνθα (= εἰς ὃν)
the stopping-place was near where he intended to make a haltἔμελλε καταλύ̄ειν
to descend to the others where the armed force was stationedκαταβαίνειν πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους ἔνθα τὰ ὅπλα ἔκειντο
2500
On comparative clauses of manner introduced by ὡς, ὥσπερ etc., see 2463 ff.
CONCORD OF RELATIVE PRONOUNS
2501
A relative pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender, number, and person; its case is determined by the construction of the clause in which it stands.
οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀνὴρ δ̀ς ἦλθε this is the man who came, αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ γυνὴ ἢν ἐζητοῦμεν this is the woman whom we were looking for, λαβὼν τοὺς ἱππέᾱς οἳ ἦσαν αὐτῷ taking the cavalry which he had, ἔχων τοὺς ὁπλἱ̄τᾱς ὧν ἐστρατήγει having the hoplites which he commanded, τριῶν θυρῶν οὐσῶν, ἃ̄ς ἔδει με διελθεῖν there being three doors through which I had to go.
a. If the main clause as a whole is regarded as the antecedent, the relative stands in the neuter singular with or without a demonstrative. Thus,
to sail for Selinus with all their force, for which purpose especially they had been sentπλεῖν ἐπὶ Σελῑνοῦντα πά̄σῃ τῇ στρατιᾷ, ἐφ᾽ ὅπερ μάλιστα ἐπέμφθησαν
b. The person of the verb in a relative clause, in which the relative pronoun is the subject, is regularly determined by the person of the antecedent pronoun expressed or implied. Thus,
I do not know what sort of a person I have becomeοὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅστις ἄνθρωπος γεγένημαι
2502
Variations from the law of agreement are, in general, the same as in the case of other pronouns (926).
a. The construction according to sense (950, 1013) often occurs, as φίλον θάλος, δ̀ν τέκον αὐτή my dear child, whom I myself bore X 87; so with collective nouns, as τὰ δόξαντα πλήθει, οἵπερ δικάσουσι what is approved by the multitude, who will judge P. Phae. 260a.
b. A relative in the plural may follow a singular antecedent denoting a whole class: θησαυροποιὸς ἀνήρ, οὓς . . . ἐπαινεῖ τὸ πλῆθος a man who lays up a store, the class of men which the multitude approves P. R. 554a. This construction is less common in prose than in poetry; as
in truth there is within some one of the gods who occupy the wide heavenἦ μάλα τις θεὸς ἔνδον, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν
c. A relative in the singular having a collective force may have its antecedent in the plural; as
to commend those who voluntarily do nothing evilτούτους ἐπαινεῖν, δ̀ς ἂν ἑκὼν μηδὲν κακὸν ποιῇ
they slew all whom they metᾥτινι ἐντυγχάνοιεν . . . πάντας ἔκτεινον
d. The relative may stand in the neuter, in agreement with the notion implied in the antecedent rather than with the antecedent itself; as διὰ τὴν πλεονεξίᾱν, δ̀ πᾶσα φύσις διώκειν πέφῡκεν ὡς ἀγαθόν for the sake of profit, a thing which every nature is inclined to pursue as a good P. R. 359c.
e. The relative may agree in gender and number, not with the antecedent but with a following predicate noun. This is common with verbs of naming; as λόγοι μήν εἰσιν ἐν ἑκάστοις ἡμῶν, ἃ̄ς ἐλπίδας ὀνομάζομεν; assuredly there are propositions in each of us which we call hopes? P. Phil. 40a,
he said that he had continued to do what was just and to refrain from what was unjust, which he thought was the best practice for his defenceεἰ̄πεν ὅτι . . . διαγεγένηται πρά̄ττων τὰ δίκαια καὶ τῶν ἀδίκων ἀπεχόμενος, ἥνπερ νομίζοι καλλίστην μελέτην ἀπολογίᾱς εἶναι
f. A relative may agree with a predicate noun when it follows that noun immediately and not its own substantive: καὶ δίκη ἐν ἀνθρώποις πῶς οὐ καλόν, ὃ πάντα ἡμέρωκε τὰ ἀνθρώπινα; and justice among men, how is not that something beautiful, which civilizes all human things? P. L. 937d.
THE ANTECEDENT OF RELATIVE CLAUSES
2503
The demonstrative antecedents of the relative pronouns are commonly: οὗτος . . . ὅς, τοιοῦτος . . . οἷος, τοσοῦτος . . . ὅσος, τηλικοῦτος . . . ἡλίκος, etc.
a. The antecedent of ὅς is often τοιοῦτος (1249). The antecedent of ὅς, ὅσπερ, οἷος, may be ὅμοιος, παραπλήσιος, ἴσος.
2504
On comparative clauses of degree with τοσούτῳ . . . ὅσῳ, etc., see 2468 ff.
2505
Definite and Indefinite Antecedent.—The antecedent of a relative pronoun or adverb may be definite or indefinite.
a. A definite antecedent refers to a definite or particular person, thing, time, place, or manner. When the antecedent is definite, the relative clause takes any form that occurs in an independent sentence (921); with οὐ as the negative, unless the particular construction requires μή.
b. An indefinite antecedent refers to an indefinite person, thing, time, place, or manner. When the antecedent is indefinite, the relative clause commonly has a conditional force, and, if negative, takes μή like the protasis of a conditional sentence.
2506
In general when the relative clause has the indicative, the antecedent is either definite (negative οὐ) or indefinite (negative μή). When the relative clause has the subjunctive with ἄν or the optative (not in a wish), the antecedent is indefinite (negative μή).
DEFINITE: ταῦτα ἃ βούλεται πρά̄ττει he does what he wants (i.e. the particular thing he wants to do). Negative ταῦτα ἃ οὐ βούλεται πρά̄ττει.
INDEFINITE: ταῦτα ἅτινα βούλεται πρά̄ττει he does whatever he wants (i.e. if he wants to do anything, he does it); negative ταῦτα ἅτινα μὴ βούλεται πρά̄ττει. So ταῦτα ἅτινα ἂν βούληται πρά̄ττει whatever he wants to do, that he always does, ταῦτα ἅτινα βούλοιτο ἔπρᾱττε whatever he wanted to do, that he always did, ταῦτα ἅτινα ἂν βούληται πρά̄ξει whatever he wants to do, that he will do, ταῦτα ἅτινα βούλοιτο, πρά̄ττοι ἄν whatever he might want to do, that he would (will) do. In the last four sentences the negative of the relative clause is μή.
2507
When the verb of the relative clause stands in the indicative, the distinction between a definite and indefinite antecedent is commonly clear only in negative sentences.
ἃ μὴ οἶδα οὐδὲ οἴομαι εἰδέναι whatever I do not know (= εἴ τινα μὴ οἶδα) I do not even think I know P. A. 21d. Here ἃ οὐκ οἶδα would mean the particular things I am ignorant of, and would have no conditional force whatever. So in
I do not know; for I am wont to be silent in matters which I do not understandοὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἐφ᾽ οἷς γὰρ μὴ φρονῶ σῑγᾶν φιλῶ
2508
When the antecedent is definite, the simple relatives (ὅς, οἷος, ὅσος, etc.) are used; when indefinite, the compound relatives (ὅστις, ὁποῖος, ὁπόσος, etc.) are used, but the simple relatives are often employed instead. When the antecedent is indefinite, ὅς usually has the subjunctive with ἄν or the optative; while ὅστις is preferred to ὅς if the verb is indicative (2569).
2509
Omission of the Antecedent to a Relative.—The demonstrative pronoun antecedent to a relative is often omitted: either when it is in the same case as the relative, or in a different case from the relative. The omission occurs when the antecedent expresses the general idea of person or thing, and often when the relative clause precedes.
ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ (οὗτοι) ὧν κρατῶ μενοῦμεν but I and those whom I command will remain X. C. 5.1.26, καλὸν τὸ θνῄσκειν οἷς (for τούτοις οἷς) ὕβριν τὸ ζῆν φέρει death is sweet to those to whom life brings contumely Men. Sent. 291, λέγω πάντας εἰσφέρειν ἀφ᾽ ὅσων (for ἀπὸ τοσούτων ὅσα) ἕκαστος ἔχει I say that all must contribute according to the ability of each (from such means as each man has) D. 2.31.
2510
In general statements in the subjunctive with ἄν or the indicative, the relative, referring to a person, is often without an antecedent and has the force of εἴ τις. In such cases the main clause contains a substantive or a neuter adjective with ἐστί (which is commonly omitted), and the relative is the subject of the sentence or in apposition to it.
συμφορὰ̄ δ᾽, δ̀ς ἂν τύχῃ κακῆς γυναικός it is a calamity if a man gets a bad wife E. fr. 1056, καὶ τοῦτο μεῖζον τῆς ἀληθείᾱς κακόν, ὅστις τὰ μὴ προσόντα κέκτηται κακά and this is a misfortune exceeding the reality, if a man incurs the blame for evils that are not his doing E. Hel. 271, ὅστις . . . πρὸς θεῶν κακοῦται, βαρύ if a man suffers ill-usage from the gods, it is grievous E. Hel. 267.
a. The antecedent may be a genitive of quality (1320). Thus, ἀπόρων ἐστὶ . . ., οἵτινες ἐθέλουσι δι᾽ ἐπιορκίᾱς . . . πρά̄ττειν τι it is the characteristic of men without resources to wish (lit. who wish) to accomplish their purposes by perjury X. A. 2.5.21 (here ἐθέλειν alone might be expected, but οἵτινες ἐθέλουσι follows as if ἄποροί εἰσιν had preceded), τοῦτο ἡγοῦμαι μέγα τεκμήριον ἄρχοντος ἀρετῆς εἶναι ᾧ ἂν (= ἐά̄ν τινι or αὐτῷ) ἑκόντες ἕπωνται I regard this as striking testimony to the merit of a ruler if men follow one (him) of their own free will X. O. 4.19.
2511
The antecedent of a neuter relative is often omitted, leaving the relative with the force of a conjunction. So ἐξ οὗ and ἀφ᾽ οὗ since, ἐν ᾧ while, εἰς <*>῞ till, μέχρι (ἄχρι) οὗ until. ἀνθ᾽ ὧν and ἐξ ὧν because (cp. οὕνεκα, ὁθούνεκα), ἐφ᾽ ᾧτε on condition that (2279).
2512
A demonstrative adverb may be suppressed: ἄξω ὑ̄μᾶς ἔνθα (for ἐκεῖσε ἔνθα) τὸ πρᾶγμα ἐγένετο I will bring you to the spot where the affair took place X. C. 5.4.21, ἀποκλείοντες ὅθεν (for ἐκεῖθεν ὅθεν) ἄν τι λαβεῖν ᾖ shutting them out from places whence it may be possible to take anything X. M. 2.1.16.
2513
ἔστιν ὅστις, εἰσὶν οἵ.—The antecedent is omitted in the phrases ἔστιν ὅστις (rarely ὅς) there is some one who, somebody, plural εἰσὶν οἵ some (less often ἔστιν οἵ), ἦσαν οἵ (of the past).
ἔστιν οὖν ὅστις βούλεται ὑπὸ τῶν συνόντων βλάπτεσθαι; is there then any one who wishes to be harmed by his companions? P. A. 25d,
there neither is nor will there be any one to whom I may leave my propertyοὔτε..ἔστιν οὔτ᾽ ἔσται ὅτῳ ἐγὼ καταλείψω τὸν ἐμὸν οἶκον
and some of them you would not be able even to cross at allεἰσὶ δ᾽ αὐτῶν οὓς οὐδ᾽ ἂν παντάπᾱσι διαβαίητε
some hit both the cuirasses and wicker-shieldsἔστιν οἵ καὶ ἐτύγχανον καὶ θωρά̄κων καὶ γέρρων
2514
The oblique cases of εἰσὶν οἵ there are those who = some (ἔνιοι) are regularly formed by ἔστιν ὧν, ἔστιν οἷς, ἔστιν οὕς (or οὕστινας), which are used also of the past and future.
except the Ionians and some other nationsπλὴν Ἰώνων . . . καὶ ἔστιν ὧν ἄλλων ἐθνῶν
some of them they struck downἔστι μὲν οὓς αὐτῶν κατέβαλον
he captured also some townsἔστιν ἃ καὶ πολίσματα εἷλεν
a. Xenophon also uses ἦν οἵ; thus,
there were some of the enemy whom they restored under a truceτῶν δὲ πολεμίων ἦν οὓς ὑποσπόνδους ἀπέδοσαν
2515
Here belong certain idiomatic phrases due to the omission of the antecedent: ἔστιν οὗ ( ὅπου ) somewhere, sometimes, ἔστιν ᾗ in some way, ἔστιν ὅτε and ἐνίοτε (= ἔνι ὅτε , cp. 175 b) sometimes, ἔστιν ὅπως somehow (in questions = is it possible that?), οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπως in no way, it is not possible that (lit. there is not how).
but sometimes silence may prove better than speechἔστι δ᾽ οὗ σῑγὴ λόγου κρείσσων γένοιτ᾽ ἄν
sometimes and for some people it is better to die than to liveβέλτῑον τεθνάναι ἢ ζῆν
it is not possible that he will not attack usοὐκ ἔστιν ὅπως οὐκ ἐπιθήσεται ἡμῖν
2516
οὐδὲν οἷον (with the inf.) there is nothing like stands for οὐδέν ἐστι τοιοῦτον, οἷόν ἐστι. Thus,
there is nothing like questioning himοὐδὲν οἷον τὸ αὐτὸν ἐρωτᾶν
2517
Relative not repeated.—If two or more relative clauses referring to the same antecedent are connected by a copulative conjunction and the second relative would have to stand in a different case from the first, it is either omitted or its place is taken by αὐτός (less frequently by οὗτος or ἐκεῖνος) or a personal pronoun. Here, instead of a repeated relative, we have an independent sentence coördinated with the relative clause.
Ἀριαῖος, ὃν ἡμεῖς ἠθέλομεν βασιλέᾱ καθιστάναι, καὶ (ᾧ) ἐδώκαμεν καὶ (παρ᾽ οὗ) ἐλάβομεν πιστὰ . . . ἡμᾶς κακῶς ποιεῖν πειρᾶται Ariaeus, whom we wished to set up as king, and to whom we gave, and from whom we received pledges, is attempting to injure us X. A. 3.2.5, ποῦ δὴ ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν ὁ ἀνὴρ δ̀ς συνεθήρᾱ ἡμῖν καὶ σύ μοι μάλα ἐδόκεις θαυμάζειν αὐτόν; where, pray, is that man who used to hunt with us and whom you seemed to me to admire greatly? X. C. 3.1.38, καὶ νῦν τί χρὴ δρᾶν; ὅστις ἐμφανῶς θεοῖς ἐχθαίρομαι, μῑσεῖ δέ μ᾽ Ἑλλήνων στρατός and now what must I do? Since I (lit. I who) am manifestly hateful to the gods, and the army of the Greeks hates me S. Aj. 457. Cp. “Whose fan is in His hand, and He shall thoroughly purge His floor.”
a. The relative is sometimes repeated as in English (X. A. 1.7.3, T. 2.43. 2, 44. 1).
2518
If the demonstrative would have to stand in the nominative, it is commonly omitted unless the demands of emphasis require its presence: (τέχναις) ᾱς ἐπιστήμᾱς μὲν πολλάκις προσείπομεν διὰ τὸ ἔθος, δέονται δὲ ὀνόματος ἄλλου arts which we have often called sciences because it is usual to do so, but they require another name P. R. 533d (here αὗται, not αἵ, is the subject).
2519
Preposition not repeated.—A preposition governing a relative pronoun is usually omitted if it stands in the same case as the preceding noun or pronoun before which the preposition has already been used. See 1671.
2520
Verb omitted.—The verb of a relative clause is often omitted when it belongs also to the main clause.
φίλους νομίζουσ᾽ οὕσπερ ἂν πόσις σέθεν (νομίζῃ φίλους) regarding as friends those whom thy husband so regards E. Med. 1153. Or the verb of the main clause may be omitted: τὰ γὰρ ἄλλα (ἐποίει) ὅσαπερ καὶ ὑ̄μεῖς ἐποιεῖτε for the rest he did just what you too were doing X. C. 4.1.3.
2521
Transition from a relative to an independent clause sometimes occurs.
(ἰχθύων) οὓς οἱ Σύροι θεοὺς ἐνόμιζον καὶ ἀδικεῖν οὐκ εἴων, οὐδὲ τὰ̄ς περιστερά̄ς fish which the Syrians regard as gods and which they will not permit to be injured, nor do they permit the doves to be injured X. A. 1.4.9.
2522
Attraction.—A relative pronoun is often attracted from its proper case into the case of its antecedent, especially from the accusative into the genitive or dative. A demonstrative pronoun to whose case the relative is attracted, is usually omitted if unemphatic. Cp. “Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints:” Milton.
a. Genitive.—ἄξιοι τῆς ἐλευθερίᾱς ἧς (for ἣν)
worthy of the freedom which you possessκέκτησθε
instead of the evils which I knowοἶδα
from what you knowἴστε
b. Dative.—φοβοίμην ἂν τῷ ἡγεμόνι ᾧ (for δ̀ν)
I should fear to follow the leader whom he might giveδοίη ἕπεσθαι
they had not used with moderation the success they gained at Leuctraηὐτυχήκεσαν ἐν Λεύκτροις οὐ μετρίως ἐκέχρηντο
2523
A relative in the nominative or dative is very rarely attracted. Thus, βλάπτεσθαι ἀφ᾽ ὧν (for ἀπὸ ἐκείνων ἃ)
to be harmed by what has been prepared by usἡμῖν παρεσκεύασται
a few of those whom I have met withἐγὼ ἐντετύχηκα
2524
The pronouns subject to attraction are ὅς, οἷος, ὅσος, but not ὅστις (except in 2534). Attraction is not necessary, and takes place only (but not always) when the relative clause is essential to complete the meaning of the antecedent. When the relative clause is added merely as a remark, attraction does not take place. An attracted relative clause virtually has the force of an attributive adjective.
2525
Predicate nouns follow the case of the relative attracted to an antecedent expressed or omitted (2531 b).
2526
An omitted antecedent to which the relative has been attracted may afterward be supplied in the main clause. Thus, ἀφ᾽ ὧν (for ἀπὸ τούτων ἃ) . . .
from what he begs and borrows, from that he livesπροσαιτεῖ καὶ δανείζεται, ἀπὸ τούτων διάγει
2527
Before βούλει , which with the relative is treated almost like one word (cp. quivis), attraction to various cases from the accusative is rare. Thus, οἷα τούτων δ̀ς (for δ̀ν)
such deeds as any one you please of these has doneβούλει εἴργασται
2528
Attraction takes place also in the case of relative adverbs; as διεκομίζοντο ὅθεν (for ἐκεῖθεν οἷ) ὑπεξέθεντο παῖδας they conveyed their children from the places where (whither) they had deposited them T. 1.89.
2529
Case of the Relative with Omitted Antecedent.—When the antecedent is omitted the relative either retains its own case or is attracted.
2530
When the omitted antecedent is nominative or accusative, the relative retains its own case. Thus, οἷς μάλιστα τὰ παρόντα ἀρκεῖ (οὗτοι)
those who are best satisfied with what they have, covet least what is their neighbour'sἥκιστα τῶν ἀλλοτρίων ὀρέγονται
2531
When the omitted antecedent is genitive or dative, the relative (if standing in a different case) is usually attracted into the genitive or dative. But a relative in the nominative masculine or feminine (sometimes in the neuter), or a relative depending on a preposition, retains its own case.
a. Genitive: ὧν (for τούτων οἷς) ἐντυγχάνω πολὺ μάλιστα ἄγαμαι σέ of those whom I meet with, I admire you by far the most P. Pr. 361e, δηλοῖς δὲ καὶ ἐξ ὧν (for ἐκ τούτων ἃ)
you show it also by the life you leadζῇς
b. Dative: τοῦτο δ᾽ ὅμοιόν ἐστιν ᾧ (for τούτῳ δ̀)
this is like that which was said just nowνῦν δὴ ἐλέγετο
2532
The relatives οἷος, ὅσος, ἡλίκος, ὅστις δή, ὁστισοῦν (and some others) and a following nominative with the copula may be attracted to the case of the antecedent. Thus, χαριζόμενος τοιούτῳ ἀνδρὶ οἷος δὺ εἶ showing favour to such a man as you are is commonly condensed to χαριζόμενος οἵῳ σοι ἀνδρί (X. M. 2.9.3). Here the whole relative clause (with copula omitted) is attracted. The antecedent, if expressed, is often incorporated (2536) in the relative clause.
πρὸς ἄνδρας τολμηροὺς οἵους καὶ Ἀθηναίους (for οι῟οι καὶ Ἀθηναῖοί εἰσι) to bold men such as the Athenians T. 7.21, ἀνίστη Ἀγριᾶνας . . . καὶ ἄλλα ὅσα ἔθνη Παιονικά he called out the Agrianes and all the other Paeonian tribes 2. 96, χειμῶνος ὄντος
when the weather is such as you describeοἵου λέγεις
a. οἷος is often attracted with superlatives: ὄντος πάγου οἵου δεινοτάτου (for τοιούτου οἷός ἐστι δεινότατος) when the frost was tremendous P. S. 220b. Cp. 1087.
b. The article may appear in this construction with οἷος and ἡλίκος, the relative clause being treated like a substantive:
to such as we areτοῖς οἵοις ἡμῖν
c. The subject of the relative clause rarely stands in the nominative, not being attracted along with οἷος. Thus,
rascals just like youκιναίδους οἵουσπερ σύ
2533
Inverse Attraction.—An antecedent nominative or (oftener) accusative may be attracted to the case of the relative. The attracted antecedent is often prefixed for emphasis to the relative clause, which thus separates it from the verb it governs or by which it is governed. Cp. urbem quam statuo vestra est, and “Him (= he whom) I accuse, By this, the city ports hath enter'd” (Shakespeare), where the antecedent is attracted into the case of the (omitted) relative.
τά̄σδε (for αἵδε)
but the women whom thou seest are comingδ᾽ ἅ̄σπερ εἰσορᾷς . . . χωροῦσι
they said that the Lacedaemonians had gained all they asked forπεπρᾱγότες εἶεν
a. The main clause may contain a resumptive demonstrative pronoun; as
this man whom you have long been searching for, this man is hereτὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον, δ̀ν πάλαι ζητεῖς . . ., οὗτός ἐστιν ἐνθάδε
b. The rare cases of the inverse attraction of the dative are suspected or admit another explanation (E. Med. 12, S. El. 653, X. Hi. 7.2).
c. So with adverbs: καὶ ἄλλοσε (for ἄλλοθι) ὅποι ἂν ἀφίκῃ ἀγαπήσουσί δε and elsewhere, wherever you go, they will love you P. Cr. 45c.
2534
οὐδεὶς ὅστις οὐ every one (lit. nobody who not) for οὐδείς ἐστιν ὅστις οὐ, commonly shows inverse attraction, is treated like a single pronoun, and inflected οὐδενὸς ὅτου οὐ, οὐδενὶ ὅτῳ οὐ, οὐδένα ὅντινα οὐ.
than which there is nothing more irrationalοὐδενὸς ὅτου οὐχὶ ἀλογώτερον
replying to every oneοὐδενὶ ὅτῳ οὐκ ἀποκρῑνόμενος
for which our ancestors underwent every dangerπερὶ ὧν οὐδένα κίνδῡνον ὅντιν᾽ οὐχ ὑπέμειναν οἱ πρόγονοι
a. Cp. οὐδαμῶν Ἑλληνικῶν τῶν οὐ πολλὸν μέζω his power was much greater than any Hellenic power Hdt. 7.145 (= οὐδαμά ἐστι τῶν),
it can in no wise be that we should say noοὐδαμῶς ὡς οὐ φήσομεν
2535
ὅσος preceded by an Adjective.—Here the subject of the relative clause is identical with that of the main clause, and is omitted together with the copula: χρήματα ἔλαβε θαυμαστὰ ὅσα (for θαυμαστόν ἐστιν ὅσα) he received a wonderful amount of money P. Hipp. M. 282c, μετὰ ἱδρῶτος θαυμαστοῦ ὅσου (for θαυμαστόν ἐστιν μεθ᾽ ὅσου) with an astonishing amount of sweat P. R. 350d. So θαυμασίως ὡς (for θαυμαστόν ἐστιν ὡς) P. Ph. 92a.
2536
Incorporation.—The antecedent taken up into the relative clause is said to be incorporated. The relative and antecedent then stand in the same case, the relative agreeing adjectively with its antecedent. If the antecedent is a substantive, it often stands at the end of the relative clause, and commonly has no article. An antecedent in the nominative or accusative is more frequently incorporated than one in the genitive or dative.
2537
A nominative, accusative, or vocative antecedent, when incorporated, usually conforms to the case of the relative.
εἰ ἔστιν, ἣν σὺ πρότερον ἔλεγες ἀρετήν, ἀληθής (for ἔστιν ἡ ἀρετὴ ἀληθής, ἣν) if the virtue which you were speaking of before, is real P. G. 503c, εἰς δὲ ἣν ἀφί̄κοντο κώμην μεγάλη ἦν (for ἡ κώμη εἰς ἣν) the village at which they arrived was large X. A. 4.4.2, κλῦθί μευ, δ̀ χθιζὸς θεὸς ἤλυθες (for θεὸς δ̀ or ὦ θεός) hear me thou that camest yesterday in thy godhead β 262.
a. An accusative antecedent is incorporated in the accusative when the verb of the relative clause takes the accusative. Thus, οὐκ ἀπεκρύπτετο ἣν εἶχε γνώμην (for τὴν γνώμην ἣν) he did not conceal the opinion he had X. M. 4.4.1, μηδ᾽ . . . ἀφέλησθε ὑ̄μῶν αὐτῶν ἣν διὰ παντὸς ἀεὶ τοῦ χρόνου δόξαν κέκτησθε καλήν (for τὴν καλὴν δόξαν ἣν) do not deprive yourselves of the fair fame which you have enjoyed throughout all time D. 20.142.
b. An accusative antecedent may be incorporated as nominative, genitive, or dative, e.g. εἴ τινα ὁρῴη . . . κατασκευάζοντα ἧς ἄρχοι χώρᾱς (for τὴν χώρᾱν ἧς ἄρχοι) if ever he saw any one improving the district which he governed X. A. 1.9.19.
2538
A genitive or dative antecedent, when incorporated, usually attracts the relative to its own case.
περὶ δ᾽ οὗ πρότερον . . . ἔθηκε νόμου διελθών (for τοῦ νόμου δ̀ν) dealing in detail with the law which he formerly passed D. 24.61, ἐπορεύετο σὺν ᾗ εἶχε δυνάμει (for σὺν τῇ δυνάμει ἣν) he advanced with what force he had X. H. 4.1.23. Even when the antecedent is omitted, the attraction takes place: πρὸς ᾧ εἶχε συνέλεγε . . . στράτευμα (for πρὸς τούτῳ τῷ στρατεύματι δ̀) he was collecting an army in addition to that which he had X. H. 4.1.41.
a. But a genitive or dative antecedent, when incorporated, is attracted into the case of a nominative relative. Thus, ἐν δικαστηρίοις καὶ ὅσοι ἄλλοι δημόσιοι σύλλογοι (sc. εἰσί) in courts and all the other public assemblies P. Phae. 261a (for τοσούτοις ἄλλοις συλλόγοις, ὅσοι δημόσιοί εἰσι).
b. When an antecedent in the genitive or dative is incorporated, the place of the antecedent is usually taken by a demonstrative pronoun in the genitive or dative. Thus,
nor do you remember all the evils we sufferedοὐδέ νυ τῶν περ μέμνηαι, ὅσα δὴ πάθομεν κακά
OTHER PECULIARITIES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES
2539
Appositives to the antecedent may be drawn into the relative clause as the nearest construction or for the sake of emphasis. Thus, εὑρήσει τοὺς . . . δικαστά̄ς, οἵπερ καὶ λέγονται ἐκεῖ δικάζειν, Μί̄νως τε καὶ Ῥαδάμανθυς κτλ. he will find the judges, who are said to pronounce judgment there, Minos and Rhadamanthys, etc. P. A. 41a.
2540
A substantive, usually with the article, is often taken over into the relative clause, to explain, by a necessary addition, the idea conveyed by that clause; and stands in the same case as the relative. Thus,
if you understand the class I wish to describeεἰ μανθάνεις ὃ βούλομαι λέγειν τὸ εἶδος
2541
The antecedent may be reserved for the main clause, which follows the relative clause. Thus,
I am not subject to the laws in virtue of which I was arrestedκαθ᾽ οὓς μὲν ἀπήχθην, οὐκ ἔνοχός εἰμι τοῖς νόμοις
2542
An attributive adjective, or an attributive genitive belonging to a substantive standing in the main clause, may be placed either in the relative clause (if either is emphatic) or in the main clause. Two adjectives may be divided between the two clauses. The substantives may remain in the main clause or be transferred to the relative clause. Thus,
they captured the fort of the Syracusans which was thereτὸ τείχισμα δ̀ ἦν αὐτόθι τῶν Συρᾱκοσίων αἱροῦσι
of which I was willing to offer to the plaintiff the assurance that was most solemnὧν ἐγὼ ἤθελον τούτῳ ταύτην ἥτις εἴη μεγίστη πίστις δοῦναι
a. From the transference of superlatives to the relative clause arise such expressions as ἤγαγον συμμάχους ὁπόσους πλείστους ἐδυνάμην (1087). Similarly ὡς τάχιστα (scil. δύνασαι or the like) as soon as, as soon as possible, ἐπεὶ (ὅτε) τάχιστα as soon as.
2543
A participial or subordinate clause depending on a following main clause may be joined to a preceding clause containing the antecedent of the relative. Thus, ἔφη εἶναι ἄκρον δ̀ εἰ μή τις προκαταλήψοιτο, ἀδύνατον ἔσεσθαι παρελθεῖν he said that there was a height which would be impossible to pass, unless it was seized in advance X. A. 4.1.25. The case of the relative may be not that required by its own verb, but that of an omitted pronoun dependent on a participle or a subordinate verb inserted in the relative clause. Thus, καταλαμβάνουσι τεῖχος . . . ὅ ποτε Ἀκαρνᾶνες τειχισάμενοι κοινῷ δικαστηρίῳ ἐχρῶντο (for ᾧ ἐχρῶντο τειχισάμενοι αὐτό) they seized a fortress which the Acarnanians once built and used as a common place of judgment T. 3.105.
2544
When the relative clause contains a verb of naming, the main clause is fused with the relative clause. Thus, ἔνθα καλεῖται Ἀρτέμιδος τέμενος (for ἔνθα τέμενός ἐστι, δ̀ καλεῖται Ἀρτέμιδος) where there is a precinct of Artemis Simonides 107.
USE OF THE MOODS IN RELATIVE CLAUSES
2545
The ordinary uses of the moods in relative clauses are as follows:
a. The present and past tenses of the indicative without ἄν express a fact or the assumption of a fact. The future indicative is used to denote purpose, present intention, or an intended result.
b. The indicative with ἄν denotes unreality.
c. The subjunctive with ἄν expresses a possible or supposed fact in future time or a generality in present time. The subjunctive without ἄν is used in indirect questions (1805 b).
d. The optative without ἄν expresses a wish, a possibility less distinctly conceived, or a generality in past time.
e. The optative with ἄν is potential, and is used either in conditional relative clauses with an optative in the main clause, or alone, as
there is one hope by which alone we may be savedμἴ ἔστιν ἐλπίς, ᾗ μόνῃ σωθεῖμεν ἄν
f. The imperative occurs in relative clauses (1842, 2553).
g. The infinitive occurs in relative clauses in indirect discourse (2631).
THE USE OF THE MOODS IN CERTAIN RELATIVE CLAUSES
2546
An extension of the deliberative subjunctive not infrequently occurs in relative clauses after such expressions as οὐκ ἔχω, οὐκ ἔστι, etc., which usually denote baffled will, the existence of an obstacle to carrying out an act desired by the speaker or some one else. The subjunctive is much less common after the positive ἔχω I have the means. The pronoun or adverb introducing such clause is an interrogative that has taken on the function of a relative.
2547
The subjunctive here follows primary tenses; the optative follows secondary tenses.
a. οὐ τοῦτο δέδοικα μὴ οὐκ ἔχω ὅ τι δῶ ἑκάστῳ τῶν φίλων . . ., ἀλλὰ μὴ οὐκ ἔχω ἱκανοὺς οἷς δῶ I do not fear that I shall not have something to give to each of my friends, but that I shall not have enough friends to give to X. A. 1.7.7, οὐχ ἕξουσιν ἐκεῖνοι ὅποι φύγωσιν they will not have any place whither to escape 2. 4. 20,
I have no longer any hopes to which I may turn and escape deathοὐκέτ᾽ εἰσὶν ἐλπίδες ὅποι τραπόμενος θάνατον . . . φύγω
he will be able to say somethingἕξει ὅ τι λέγῃ
b.
for I had no one to bring my letterοὐδένα γὰρ εἶχον ὅστις . . . τὰ̄ς ἐμὰ̄ς ἐπιστολὰ̄ς πέμψειε
c. Attic never, or rarely, has the positive forms ἔχω ὅ τι ἄν, ἔστιν δ̀ς ἄν (K 170), πέμπω ὅστις ἄν, with the potential optative.
2548
The subjunctive with κέ in Homer does not involve will in
that man lives not nor will ever be born who shall come to the land of the Phaeaciansοὐκ ἔσθ᾽ οὗτος ἀνὴρ . . . οὐδὲ γένηται, ὅς κεν Φαιήκων . . . ἐς γαῖαν ἵκηται
2549
The deliberative future (1916) occurs in relative clauses; as
I do not know how we are to go homeὅπως μολούμεθ᾽ ἐς δόμους οὐκ ἔχω
The deliberative subjunctive is more common; as
I am not able to deal with your argumentοὐκ ἔχω ὅ τι χρήσωμαι τοῖς λόγοις
2550
In a few cases the future is used like the subjunctives of 2547 a; and may be explained as a dependent deliberative future. Thus, οὐ γάρ τις ὅρμος ἔστιν, οὐδ᾽ ὅποι πλέων ἐξεμπολήσει κέρδος for there is no harbour, nor is there any place to which a man may voyage and sell his wares at a profit S. Ph. 303,
for thou thyself hast need of forethought whereby thou shalt extricate thyself from this troubleαὐτὸν γάρ σε δεῖ προμηθέως ὅτῳ τρόπῳ τῆσδ᾽ ἐκκυκλισθήσει τύχης
2551
οὐκ ἔστιν ὅς ( ὅπως, ὅπου, ὡς ) are used with the future indicative to introduce statements as regards the future. Thus, οὐ γάρ τις ἔστιν δ̀ς πάροιθ᾽ αἱρήσεται τὴν σὴν ἀχρεῖον δύναμιν ἀντ᾽ Εὐρυσθέως there is no one who will prefer thy feeble power rather than Eurystheus E. Heracl. 57, οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με thou wilt in no wise (lit. it is not possible how thou shalt) see me coming here S. Ant. 329. The indicative present or aorist is also used in statements as regards the present or past. All these indicatives may be dependent deliberatives. Cp. 2557.
2552
The optative without ἄν (probably potential) occurs in Attic poetry after οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις (ὅπως, ὅποι) and the interrogative τίς ἐστίν ὅς (ὅστις) and ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως. Thus,
there is no one except myself who could cut itοὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις πλὴν ἐμοῦ κείραιτό νιν
CLASSES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES
2553
Ordinary Relative Clauses define more exactly a definite antecedent, and show the mood and the negative of simple sentences.
Indicative:
this is what I wantταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἃ ἐγὼ δέομαι
in coming to me he will not meet with the treatment he would have suffered had he consorted with any other of the sophistsπαρ᾽ ἐμὲ ἀφικόμενος οὐ πείσεται ἅπερ ἂν ἔπαθεν ἄλλῳ τῳ συγγενόμενος τῶν σοφιστῶν
Subjunctive: Ἄνυτος ὅδε παρεκαθέζετο, ᾧ μεταδῶμεν τῆς ζητήσεως Anytus has taken his seat here (lit.) to whom let us give a share in the investigation P. Men. 80e, κλύων ὁθούνεκα . . . μήτηρ δ᾽ ἐν οἴκοις· ἣν σὺ μὴ δείσῃς hearing that our mother is in the house, (lit.) of whom have thou no fear S. El. 1309.
Optative: οἴομαι ἂν ἡμᾶς τοιαῦτα παθεῖν, οἷα τοὺς ἐχθροὺς οἱ θεοὶ ποιήσειαν I think we should endure such things as I pray the gods may inflict upon our enemies X. A. 3.2.3, δόρατα ἔχοντες . . . ὅσα ἀνὴρ ἂν φέροι μόλις having spears, such as a man could carry with difficulty 5. 4. 25, ἄρξομαι δ᾽ ἐντεῦθεν ὅθεν . . . ἐγὼ τάχιστ᾽ ἂν διδάξαιμι I will begin at (from) that point where I can most quickly inform you D. 29.5. The potential optative without ἄν is very rare (2552).
Imperative:
I will tell thy wandering, which do thou inscribe in the tablets of thy memoryπλάνην φράσω, ἣν ἐγγράφου σὺ μνήμοσιν δέλτοις φρενῶν
a. Ordinary relative clauses are explanatory, and (in sense) are equivalent to independent coördinated clauses. See 2490.
b. Homer has κέ or ἄν with the future: παρ᾽ ἐμοί γε καὶ ἄλλοι, οἵ κέ με τῑμήσουσι I have others by my side who will honour me A 175.
2554
Relative Clauses of Purpose (Final Relative Clauses) regularly take the future indicative, even after past tenses (negative μή). The antecedent of final relative clauses is usually indefinite. ὅς is commoner than ὅστις. (The construction with the future participle is more frequent: 2065).
I say that we must send an embassy, which will inform some of this and incite othersφημὶ δὴ δεῖν ἡμᾶς . . . πρεσβείᾱν πέμπειν, ἣ τοὺς μὲν διδάξει ταῦτα, τοὺς δὲ παροξυνεῖ
send some one who will announceπέμψον τιν᾽ ὅστις σημανεῖ
the people voted to choose thirty men who should codify the ancestral laws by which they were to conduct the governmentἔδοξε τῷ δήμῳ τριά̄κοντα ἄνδρας ἑλέσθαι, οἳ τοὺς πατρίους νόμους συγγράψουσι, καθ᾽ οὓς πολῑτεύσουσι
I will hide this sword where no one shall see itκρύψω τόδ᾽ ἔγχος . . . ἔνθα μή τις ὄψεται
a. After a secondary tense the future optative occurs rarely: οἱ δὲ τριά̄κοντα ᾑρέθησαν μὲν ἐπεὶ τάχιστα τὰ μακρὰ τείχη . . . καθῃρέθη· αἱρεθέντες δ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ᾧτε ξυγγράψαι νόμους, καθ᾽ οὕστινας πολῑτεύσοιντο κτλ. the thirty were chosen as soon as the long walls were destroyed; and having been chosen for the purpose of codifying the laws, according to which they were to conduct the government, etc. X. H. 2.3.11. In local clauses: S. O. T. 796.
b. A past purpose may be expressed by ἔμελλον and the infinitive. Thus,
they appointed Alcidas as admiral who was to sail in commandναύαρχον προσέταξαν᾽ Αλκίδᾱν, δ̀ς ἔμελλεν ἐπιπλεύσεσθαι
c. Homer uses the subjunctive (with κέ, except Γ 287) after primary tenses, the optative after secondary tenses. Thus,
a seer will come to tell thee the wayμάντις ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέν τοι ἔπῃσιν ὁδόν
they sent a messenger to tell the womanἄγγελον ἧκαν δ̀ς ἀγγείλειε γυναικί
2555
Relative Clauses of Cause take the indicative (negative οὐ). ὅς is more common than ὅστις.
θαυμαστὸν ποιεῖς, δ̀ς ( = ὅτι σὺ)
you do a strange thing in giving us nothingἡμῖν . . . οὐδὲν δίδως
a. γε is often added to ὅς or ὅστις.
b. μή is used when there is also an idea of characteristic (of such a sort) or condition (perhaps to avoid a harsher form of statement). Cp. 2705 g.
2556
Relative Clauses of Result (Consecutive Relative Clauses) usually take the indicative (for οἷος, ὅσος with the infinitive see 2497). The negative is οὐ when the relative clause approximates ὥστε (οὐ) with the indicative, as is generally the case when the main clause is negative, expressed or implied. Here ὅστις is commoner than ὅς. The negative is μή when the relative clause expresses an intended (2557) or anticipated (2558) result, where ὥστε μή with the infinitive would be less precise.
τίς οὕτω μαίνεται ὅστις οὐ βούλεται σοὶ φίλος εἶναι; who is so mad that he does not wish to be a friend to you? X. A. 2.5.12,
for each side did not have weapons so short that they could not reach each otherοὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτω βραχὺ ὅπλον ἑκάτεροι εἶχον ᾧ οὐκ ἐξῑκνοῦντο ἀλλήλων
a. The indicative with ἄν and the optative with ἄν are rare. Thus, τίς δ᾽ ἦν οὕτως . . . μῑσαθήναιος, ὅστις ἐδυνήθη ἂν ἄτακτον αὑτὸν ὑπομεῖναι ἰδεῖν; who was such a hater of Athens that he could endure to see himself not at his post? Lyc. 39,
who is so vigorous that he could carry on war while battling with cold?τίς οὕτως ἰσχῡρός, δ̀ς . . . ῥἱ̄γει δύναιτ᾽ ἂν μαχόμενος στρατεύεσθαι
2557
The indicative is normal in consecutive relative clauses introduced by οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις (οὐ), οὐδείς ἐστιν ὅστις (οὐ), οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπως (οὐ), εἰσὶν οἵ, ἔστιν οἷς, etc.
there is no one who does not love himselfοὐκ ἔστιν οὐδεὶς ὅστις οὐχ αὑτὸν φιλεῖ
a. The indicative with ἄν and the optative with ἄν also occur. Thus,
for there was nothing that you could have doneοὐ γὰρ ἦν ὅ τι ἂν ἐποιεῖτε
whom every one would despiseὧν οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις οὐκ ἂν καταφρονήσειεν
b. On the subjunctive and optative without ἄν, see 2546, 2547, 2552.
2558
The future indicative is often used to express an intended result (negative μή).
it is senseless to attack men of such a kind that we shall not hold them in subjection if we conquer themἀνόητον ἐπὶ τοιούτους ἰέναι ὧν κρατήσᾱς μὴ κατασχήσει τις
2559
The future indicative is especially common when the main clause contains an idea of ability, capacity, or characteristic, and the relative clause denotes what is to be expected of the subject.
ἱκανοί ἐσμεν . . . ὑ̄μῖν πέμψαι ναῦς τε καὶ ἄνδρας οἵτινες συμμαχοῦνταί τε καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν ἡγήσονται (cp. ὥστε συμμάχεσθαι) we are able to send you ships and men who will fight with you and direct your journey X. A. 5.4.10, οὔτε πλοῖα ἔστι τὰ ἀπάξοντα οὔτε σῖτος ᾧ θρεψόμεθα μένοντες we have neither ships to convey us away nor provisions to feed us while we remain 6. 5. 20,
he needs some one to improve himδεῖταί τινος ὅστις αὐτὸν ὀνήσει
a bill had to be passed of such a character as to destroy the Phociansψήφισμα νῑκῆσαι τοιοῦτο δι᾽ οὗ Φωκεῖς ἀπολοῦνται
2560
Conditional Relative Clauses may be resolved into if clauses, ὅς (ὅστις) corresponding to εἴ τις and ὅς (ὅστις) ἄν to ἐά̄ν τις. The negative is μή.
a. The antecedent of conditional relative clauses is indefinite (2505 b).
b. Such relative clauses, like temporal clauses, correspond in form to the protases of ordinary conditional sentences. Conditional relative sentences show, in general, the same substitutions permitted in the corresponding conditional sentences. δ̀ς ἄν is always generic, ἐά̄ν may be particular in prose.
2561
The correspondence in construction between the common forms of conditional, temporal, and conditional relative, sentences is shown by the following table:
| Present | |||
| Simple: | εἴ (ὅτε, ὅ) τι | ἔχει | δίδωσι |
| Unreal: | εἴ (ὅτε, ὅ) τι | εἶχεν | ἐδίδου ἄν |
| General: | ἐά̄ν τι (ὅταν τι, ὅ τι) | ἔχῃ | δίδωσι |
| Past | |||
| Simple: | εἴ (ὅτε, ὅ) τι | εἶχεν (ἔσχεν) | ἐδίδου (ἔδωκε) |
| Unreal: | εἴ (ὅτε, ὅ) τι | ἔσχεν (εἶχεν) | ἔδωκεν (ἐδίδου) ἄν |
| General: | εἴ (ὅτε, ὅ) τι | ἔχοι | ἐδίδου |
| Future | |||
| More Vivid: | ἐά̄ν τι (ὅταν τι, ὅ τι ἂν) | ἔχῃ | δώσει |
| Less Vivid: | εἴ (ὅτε, ὅ) τι | ἔχοι | διδοίη (δοίη) ἄν |
N.—English cannot always, without obscurity, use a relative to translate ὅτε or ὅ τι with an unreal indicative; in such cases when (ever) or whatever are best rendered by if ever. Cp. 2396.
PRESENT AND PAST CONDITIONAL RELATIVE CLAUSES
First Form: SIMPLE PRESENT AND PAST CONDITIONAL RELATIVES
2562
Simple present and past conditional relative clauses have the present or past indicative. The main clause has the indicative or any other form of the simple sentence (cp. 2298, 2300).
οὐ γὰρ ἃ πρά̄ττουσιν οἱ δίκαιοι, ἀλλ᾽ ἃ (= εἴ τινα) μὴ πρά̄ττουσι, ταῦτα λέγεις for it is not what the just do, but what they do not do, that you keep telling us X. M. 4.4.11, τῶν Ἑλλήνων οἳ (= εἴ τινες)
those of the Greeks who happened not to be in rank ran into their ranksμὴ ἔτυχον ἐν ταῖς τάξεσιν ὄντες εἰς τὰ̄ς τάξεις ἔθεον
neither hear nor behold that which beseems thee notἃ μὴ προσήκει μήτ᾽ ἄκουε μήθ᾽ ὅρᾱ
whoever longs to live, let him strive to conquerὅστις ζῆν ἐπιθῡμεῖ, πειρά̄σθω νῑκᾶν
a. Since the antecedent of these clauses is indefinite, simple present conditional relative clauses with the present indicative in the main clause often have the value of general conditions. But general clauses with ὅς (μή) usually take the subjunctive or optative (2567, 2568), and those with ὅστις (μή) the indicative (2569).
2563
If the relative clause expresses a present intention or necessity, the future indicative may be used.
ἐν τούτῳ κεκωλῦσθαι (1950) ἐδόκει ἑκάστῳ τὰ πρά̄γματα ᾧ μή τις αὐτὸς παρέσται each thought that progress was surely impeded in any undertaking in which he was not going to take part in person (= ἐν τούτῳ κεκώλῡται ᾧ μὴ παρέσομαι) T. 2.8. Cp. P. Th. 186c. More common is μέλλω with the present or future infinitive:
may you adopt whatever course is likely to be of advantage to you allἕλοισθ᾽ ὅ τι . . . ἅπᾱσι συνοίσειν ὑ̄μῖν μέλλει
a. Elsewhere the future indicative is not regular in conditional relative sentences.
Second Form: PRESENT AND PAST UNREAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVES
2564
Present and past unreal conditional relative clauses have a secondary tense of the indicative. The main clause has a secondary tense with ἄν (cp. 2303).
οὔτε γὰρ ἂν αὐτοὶ ἐπεχειροῦμεν πρά̄ττειν ἃ (= εἴ τινα) μὴ ἠπιστάμεθα κτλ. for (if that were so) neither should we ourselves be undertaking (as we are) to do what we did not understand, etc. P. Charm. 171e, οἱ παῖδες ὑ̄μῶν, ὅσοι (= εἴ τινες) ἐνθάδε ἦσαν, ὑπὸ τούτων ἂν ὑ̄βρίζοντο (if that were so) your children, as many of them as were present (but none were present), would be insulted by these men L. 12.98, ὁπότερα τούτων ἐποίησεν, οὐδενὸς ἂν ἧττον πλούσιοι ἦσαν whichever of these things he had done, they would be no less rich than any one 32. 23.
FUTURE CONDITIONAL RELATIVE CLAUSES
Third Form: MORE VIVID FUTURE CONDITIONAL RELATIVES
2565
Conditional relative clauses that vividly anticipate the realization of a future event take the subjunctive with ἄν. The main clause has the future indicative or any other form referring to the future.
τῷ ἀνδρὶ δ̀ν ἂν (= ἐά̄ν τινα)
I will obey whatever man you may chooseἕλησθε πείσομαι
whatever others acquire by labour, that you shall enjoyἂν οἱ ἄλλοι ἐργάζωνται, τούτοις σὺ χρήσῃ
I will try to do you all the good I canπειρά̄σομαι ὅ τι ἂν δύνωμαι ὑ̄μᾶς ἀγαθὸν ποιεῖν
wherever I go the young men will listen to my speakingὅποι ἂν ἔλθω, λέγοντος ἐμοῦ ἀκροά̄σονται οἱ νέοι
answer whatever I ask youἀπόκρῑναι ὅ τι ἄν δε ἐρωτῶ
follow where any one may lead youἕπεσθε ὅπῃ ἄν τις ἡγῆται
so that you can get off in any suit you pleaseὥστ᾽ ἀποφύγοις ἂν ἥντιν᾽ ἂν βούλῃ δίκην
a. The future indicative is scarcely ever used in a conditional relative clause of this sort (T. 1.22 ὅσοι βουλήσονται; cp. 1913).
b. Homer has some cases of the subjunctive without κέ or ἄν (e.g. N 234). Homer sometimes uses the future with κέ or ἄν in the main clause: ὁ δέ κεν κεχολώσεται, ὅν κεν ἵκωμαι and he will be wroth to whom I shall come A 139.
Fourth Form: LESS VIVID FUTURE CONDITIONAL RELATIVES
2566
Conditional relative clauses that set forth less vividly the realization of a future event take the optative. The main clause has the optative with ἄν.
ὀκνοίην ἂν εἰς τὰ πλοῖα ἐμβαίνειν ἃ (= εἴ τινα)
I should hesitate to embark in the vessels that Cyrus might give usἡμῖν Κῦρος δοίη
nor could he love what he does not desireδ̀ δὲ μὴ ἀγαπῴη, οὐδ᾽ ἂν φιλοῖ
a. The main clause has the optative without ἄν in wishes:
may he keep the gifts of the gods whatever they may giveδῶρα θεῶν ἔχοι, ὅττι διδοῖεν
b. Homer sometimes uses κέ or ἄν in the relative clause ( φ 161).
GENERAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVE CLAUSES
Fifth Form PRESENT GENERAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVES
2567
Present general conditional relative clauses have ἄν with the subjunctive. The main clause has the present indicative or an equivalent.
νέος δ᾽ ἀπόλλυθ᾽ ὅντιν᾽ (= εἴ τινα) ἂν φιλῇ θεός ‘he dieth young, whome'er a god doth love’ Stob. Flor. 120.13, οὓς (= εἴ τινας) ἂν ὁοᾷ φιλοκινδύ̄νως ἔχοντας πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους, τῑμᾷ whomever he sees zealous of danger in the face of the enemy, these he honours X. H. 6.1.6,
they both get a wife from whatever family they please and give their daughters in marriage to whomsoever they chooseγαμοῦσί τε ὁπόθεν ἂν βούλωνται, ἐκδιδόωσί τε εἰς οὓς ἂν ἐθέλωσι
for every land is a man's own country wheresoever he fares wellπατρὶς γάρ ἐστι πᾶσ᾽ ἵν᾽ ἂν πρά̄ττῃ τις εὖ
a. Gnomic aorist in the main clause: ὅς κε θεοῖς ἐπιπείθηται, μάλα τ᾽ ἔκλυον αὐτοῦ whoever obeys the gods, him they most do hear A 218.
b. The subjunctive without ἄν (κέ) is usual in Homer and occurs occasionally in Attic and lyric poetry. Thus,
he watches over men and punishes whoever transgressesἀνθρώπους ἐφορᾷ καὶ τί̄νυται ὅς τις ἁμάρτῃ
but those griefs pain the most which are seen to be self-soughtτῶν δὲ πημονῶν μάλιστα λῡποῦσ᾽ αἳ φανῶσ᾽ αὐθαίρετοι
c. The apodosis here usually expresses a general truth, less often iterative action. In 2568 the apodosis refers to iterative action, usually on the part of designated individuals.
Sixth Form PAST GENERAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVES
2568
Past general conditional relative clauses have the optative. The main clause has the imperfect or an equivalent.
ἀεὶ πρὸς ᾧ (= εἰ πρός τινι)
whatever work he was engaged in, that he always performedεἴη ἔργῳ, τοῦτο ἔπρᾱττεν
they used to destroy as many as they capturedπάντας . . . ὅσους λάβοιεν διέφθειρον
he used to hunt wherever they fell in with large gameἐθήρᾱ ὅπου περ ἐπιτυγχάνοιεν θηρίοις
a. An iterative tense with ἄν in the main clause: ὅπῃ μέλλοι ἀ̄ριστοποιεῖσθαι τὸ στράτευμα . . ., ἐπανήγαγεν ἄν τὸ κέρας, when the squadron was about to take breakfast, he would draw back the wing X. H. 6.2.28.
INDICATIVE FORM OF GENERAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVE CLAUSES
The present indicative instead of the subjunctive with ἄν occurs in general conditional relative clauses (cp. 2342). This occurs chiefly after ὅστις, which is itself sufficiently general in meaning.
those who in feeling are least depressed at misfortunes, in action resist them mostοἵτινες πρὸς τὰ̄ς ξυμφορὰ̄ς γνώμῃ ἥκιστα λῡποῦνται, ἔργῳ δὲ μάλιστα ἀντε´χουσιν
whoever fixes his gaze on wealth or noble lineage and weds a wicked woman, is a foolὅστις δὲ πλοῦτον ἢ εὐγένειαν εἰσιδὼν γαμεῖ πονηρά̄ν, μῶρός ἐστιν
whatsoever is fair is dear foreverὅ τι καλὸν φίλον ἀ̄εί
a. Cases of the imperfect instead of the optative are rare and generally ill supported: ὅπου ᾤετο τὴν πατρίδα τι ὠφελήσειν, οὐ πόνων ὑφί̄ετο whenever he thought that he could benefit his country in any respect, he did not shrink from toil X. Ag. 7. 1. Cp. X. A. 1.1.5, 1. 9. 27.
The indicative is generally used in parenthetical or appended relative clauses with ὅστις (ὅστις ποτέ). Thus,
we serve the gods, whatever those gods areδουλεύομεν θεοῖς, ὅ τι ποτ᾽ εἰσὶν οἱ θεοί
a. The subjunctive with ἄν is also used when the reference is to future time or to general present time. Cp. Aes. 1.127, D. 4.27.
LESS USUAL FORMS OF CONDITIONAL RELATIVE SENTENCES
2571
The potential optative with ἄν in the main clause with the indicative (2562) or subjunctive (2565) in the relative clause.
2572
Indicative with ἄν or potential optative with ἄν in the relative clause.
ὅντιν᾽ ἂν ὑ̄μεῖς εἰς ταύτην τὴν τάξιν κατεστήσατε . . ., οὗτος . . . τῶν ἴσων ἂν αἴτιος ἦν κακῶν ὅσωνπερ καὶ οὗτος whomsoever you might have appointed to this post, such a one would have been the cause of as many evils as this man has been D. 19.29, τὰ̄ς δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ Ἰλλυρίους . . . καὶ ὅποι τις ἂν εἴποι παραλείπω στρατείᾱς I omit his expeditions against the Illyrians and many others (lit. whithersoever) one might speak of D. 1.13. Cp. X. Ag. 2. 24.
2573
The optative in the relative clause with the present or future indicative or the imperative in the main clause (cp. 2359). With the present this occurs especially in general statements and maxims. The main clause is often introduced by a verb requiring the infinitive.
ἀλλ᾽ δ̀ν πόλις στήσειε, τοῦδε χρὴ κλύειν but whomever the State might appoint, him we must obey S. Ant. 666,
one should refrain from saying oneself what one does not know for certainτοῦ μὲν αὐτὸν λέγειν, ἁ` μὴ σαφῶς εἰδείη, εἴργεσθαι δεῖ
a. The present indicative sometimes may have the force of an emphatic future ( ζ 286). Sometimes the optative indicates a case/that is not likely to occur; as ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι you are ready to be wroth with another, supposing any one do such things Ψ 494.
b. Other examples of the present: Homer P 631 (doubtful); Theognis 689; Aes. Pr. 638; Soph. O. T. 315, 979; Lys. 12. 84; Xen. C. 2. 4. 10, 7. 5. 56, H. 3. 4. 18, 7. 3. 7; Plato Charm. 164 a, Eu. 292 e (doubtful), L. 927 c. Temporal: S. Tr. 92, P. R. 332a.
c. The future indicative occurs in τ 510 (temporal N 317); the perfect indicative in Δ 262 and ω 254 (temporal); the aorist imperative in X. C. 1.4.14.
Herbert Weir Smyth.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.