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"The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic

Relative clauses with the subjunctive that describe what kind of person or thing, and the predicate accusative.

LatinAdvanced Latin · ClausesAbout 3 min: 1 reading, 2 practiceUpdated

After this lesson you can
  • Tell a relative clause of fact (indicative) from one of characteristic (subjunctive)
  • Translate is quī + subjunctive as "the kind of person to"
  • Use two accusatives after verbs of making, choosing and calling
Latin Level 3: constructions: lesson 9 of 14
  1. Advanced Latin · The subjunctive
  2. amem, regam, sim: the present subjunctive 4 min
  3. ut, nē, quī: purpose clauses 3 min
  4. amārem, essem: the imperfect subjunctive and the sequence of tenses 4 min
  5. amāverim, amāvissem; indirect commands 3 min
  6. possim; "I fear that …" 3 min
  7. Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
  8. amāns, amātus, amātūrus, amandus: participles 3 min
  9. volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute 4 min
  10. Advanced Latin · Clauses
  11. fīō; "so … that": result clauses 4 min
  12. "The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic 3 min
  13. cum: when, since, although 3 min
  14. Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
  15. amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive 4 min
  16. Advanced Latin · Clauses
  17. eō; "he said that …": indirect statement 4 min
  18. ferō; the dative with compounds; indirect questions 4 min
  19. Advanced Latin · Review
  20. The cases and the moods: a review 4 min

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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson LXIX ("The Subjunctive of Characteristic or Description · The Predicate Accusative"), §§ 389–393

What it is

A relative clause in the indicative states a fact about one person. In the subjunctive it describes the kind of person or thing:

  • Caesar est is quī nōs dūcit. → Caesar is the man who is leading us. (fact)
  • Caesar est is quī nōs dūcat. → Caesar is the man to lead us. (description)

Typical patterns:

  • Quis est quī suam domum nōn amet? → Who is there who does not love his own home?
  • Erant quī hoc facere nōllent. → There were some who were unwilling to do this.
  • Nihil videō quod timeam. → I see nothing to fear.

The predicate accusative. Verbs of making, choosing, calling take two accusatives for the same person:

  • Rōmānī Caesarem cōnsulem fēcērunt. → The Romans made Caesar consul.

In the passive both become nominative: Caesar cōnsul factus est, Caesar was made consul. Such verbs: creō (choose, elect), appellō, nōminō, vocō (call), faciō (make).

Quick check

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  1. Nēmō est quī hoc faciat. means …

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    There is no one who would do this.. Clause of characteristic.

Why it matters

"There were those who…", "he is not the man to…", "nothing to fear": Latin authors use these to judge character, and the mood is the whole difference between fact and description.

Worked example

  • Tū nōn is es quī amīcōs trādās. → You are not the kind of man to betray your friends. (trādō, hand over, betray)
  • Sunt quī hostēs timeant. → There are some who fear the enemy.
  • Cīvēs Mārcum rēgem appellāvērunt. → The citizens called Marcus king.

Common mistake

Reading every subjunctive relative clause as purpose. After is, nēmō, quis, sunt, erant, a subjunctive relative usually describes: the kind of person who. Purpose relatives follow verbs of sending or choosing (mīsit quī …).

Key terms

clause of characteristic
relative clause + subjunctive: what kind of
is quī + subjunctive
the kind of person to …
sunt quī + subjunctive
there are some who …
predicate accusative
second accusative after make, choose, call
creō, creāre
choose, elect
appellō, appellāre
call, name
cōnsul, cōnsulis, m.
consul

Practise the key terms

Tap a card to turn it over. 7 cards.

FrontBack
clause of characteristicrelative clause + subjunctive: what kind of
is quī + subjunctivethe kind of person to …
sunt quī + subjunctivethere are some who …
predicate accusativesecond accusative after make, choose, call
creō, creārechoose, elect
appellō, appellārecall, name
cōnsul, cōnsulis, m.consul

Practice

Sort it

Fact (indicative) or description (subjunctive)?

  1. Caesar est is quī nōs dūcit.

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    Fact. Indicative: who is leading us.

  2. Caesar est is quī nōs dūcat.

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    Description. Subjunctive: the man to lead us.

  3. Nihil videō quod timeam.

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    Description. Nothing of a kind to fear.

  4. Vir quī venit est meus pater.

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    Fact. Indicative: the man who is coming.

Quick quiz

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  1. "The Romans made Caesar consul."

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    Rōmānī Caesarem cōnsulem fēcērunt.. Predicate accusative.

  2. In the passive, "Caesar was made consul":

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    Caesar cōnsul factus est.. Passive: two nominatives.

Practise speaking

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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: is, quī, quod, nēmō, est, hoc, hostēs, sunt, erant, nihil, faciat, timeant, timeam, dūcat, dūcit, videō, Caesar, Caesarem, cōnsul, cōnsulem, rēgem, fēcērunt, appellāvērunt, factus est, Rōmānī, cīvēs. Say English sentences like 'there are some who fear the enemy', 'there is no one who would do this' or 'the Romans made Caesar consul', and I will say them in Latin. Do 8 sentences. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.

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Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.

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In short

  • Relative + indicative: fact. Relative + subjunctive: description (characteristic).
  • is quī, nēmō est quī, sunt quī, nihil … quod + subjunctive.
  • Making, choosing, calling: two accusatives; passive: two nominatives.

Mastery check

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Check yourself

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  1. Translate Sunt quī hoc nōn crēdant.

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    There are some who do not believe this.

  2. What mood shows a clause of characteristic?

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    The subjunctive.

  3. Give the Latin for "They chose Marcus consul" (creō).

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    Mārcum cōnsulem creāvērunt.

Further reading

  • D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson LXIX, §§ 389–393. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.