3.6 Relative Words

A relative word occurs after a noun or a pronoun and before a verb phrase or a clause to form a relative clause which modifies the noun or pronoun. There are three relative words: the relative pronoun kyo, the relative adverb kye, and the relative clausal word kyake. Unlike the clauses formed with clausal words, relative clauses are strictly modifiers and cannot stand alone or be used as subjects or objects of a verb.

3.6.1 Relative Pronoun

The relative pronoun is kyo (who/what/which). Note that kyo is not inflected and is used to modify singular/plural nouns denoting animate/inanimate objects.

La persono kyo skratats finte The person who laughs last

skratats pluste bone. laughs best.

Myo fondats le profesoro kyo I like professors who explain

eksplikats klare. clearly.

Myo lergintats la libro kyo onats la tablo. I have read the book which is on the table.

3.6.2 Relative Adverb

The relative adverb is kye. The various meanings of kye are clearly indicated by the meaning of the noun which precedes it. For example, when kye follows metodo it means ‘by which’; when it follows razono it means ‘why’, etc. It has many translations depending on the noun which it follows.

La metodo kye dya nadits estits The method by which he swam was

ekstraordinera. extraordinary.

Mark dicits alu myo la razono Mark told me the reason why they

kye dyay empregits myo. hired me.

La degreo kye dya kreskits The degree to which he grew

dumu una djaro surprizats myo. in one year surprises me.

La maniero kye dya tokits The manner in which she played

platcits cakyo. pleased everybody.

Dya departuts anu la djurno She will leave on the day

kye dya arivuts. when he arrives.

Myo sabats la lwoko kye dya studits. I know the place where she studied.

Sometimes kye may be translated as ‘that’ in English.

3.6.3 Relative Clausal Word

The relative clausal word is kyake (such that). kyake is followed by a full sentence which further specifies the person or thing denoted by the preceding noun. kyake is useful in statements made in mathematics and logic.

Dze egzistats situaciono kyake cakyo timats ce nulyo sabats kiwo dya culdats farare.

There exists a situation such that everyone is scared and no one knows what he/she should do.

3.6.4 Relative Phrases Containing Relative Words and Infinitives

Relative phrases containing either the relative pronoun kyo or the relative adverb kye and an infinitive are used in Ayola, as similar constructions are used in the natural languages, to produce a more compact form of expression.

Relative Phrases Containing kyo and an Infinitive

There are two kinds of relative phrases containing kyo and an infinitive:

1. When the relative phrase begins with kyo, kyo is the direct object of the infinitive.

2. When the relative phrase begins with a preposition plus kyo, kyo is the object of the preposition and the prepositional phrase modifies the infinitive.

Here are some examples of both types:

Dze estats multa cozoy kyo farare.	There are many things to do.
Myo no sabats la pluste bona urboy kyo vizitare.	I don’t know the best cities to visit.
Ye vu sabats la pluste kwieta lwokoy enu kyo syedare ceyi lergare?	Do you know the quietest places (in which) to sit and read (together)?
Dya decidintats la organizacionoy alu kyo donare.	She has decided on the organizations (to which) to give (to).

Note that the English relative pronouns ‘who’ and ‘which’, usually used to translate kyo, must be omitted in the English translation when the relative pronoun is the direct object of the infinitive (Sentences 1 and 2) and may be omitted when the relative pronoun is the object of a preposition (Sentences 3 and 4). In Ayola kyo may never be omitted.

Such sentences are really compact forms of longer sentences having full relative clauses with a subject and a form of a helping verb such as povare (to be able), culdare (to be obliged) or devare (to be compelled), before the infinitive or an indicative form of the verb replacing the infinitive. Here are some possible longer sentences corresponding to the above compact ones:

Dze estats multa cozoy kyo myo devats farare.	There are many things which I must do.
Myo no sabats la pluste bona urboy kyo moy culdats vizitare.	I don’t know the best cities which we should visit.
Ye vu sabats la pluste kwieta lwokoy enu kyo tyo povats syedare ceyi lergare?	Do you know the quietest places in which one can sit and read (together)?
Dya decidintats la organizacionoy alu kyo dya donuts.	She has decided on the organizations to which she will give.

The compact forms allow the speaker to communicate the basic idea without having to state explicitly the particular subject and helping verb or verb tense.

Relative Phrases Containing kye and an Infinitive

In some cases similar phrases containing the relative adverb kye may be used when the noun modified by the relative phrases makes the meaning of kye clear.

Ye vu sabats la pluste kwieta lwokoy kye syedare ceyi lergare?	Do you know the quietest places to sit and read?
Dze estats nula bona razono kye ganare.	There is no good reason to go.

In the first sentence kye following lwokoy clearly means ‘in which’ or ‘where’, whereas in the second sentence, following razono it clearly means ‘because of which’ or ‘why’.

Note that in all of the Ayola compact forms discussed in this section the infinitive must be preceded by one of the two relative words kyo or kye. It may never follow the noun directly.

3.6.5 Test for Using Clausal or Relative Words

A good test which the student may use to decide between the use of a clausal or a relative word is the following:

Does the clause answer:

1. a pronominal question (who, what)

2. an adjectival question (which, what kind of)

If it answers a pronominal question use a clausal word.

If it answers an adjectival question use a relative word.

Let us apply this test to the sentences below:

Hwo vu dicits alu la instrukto? What did you tell the teacher?

Myo dicits alu la instrukto I told the teacher who studies best.

kiyo studats pluste bone.

Alu hwa instrukto vu dicits? What teacher did you tell?

Myo dicits alu la instrukto I told (something to) the teacher

kyo studats pluste bone. who studies best.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Replace the underlined word(s) with the appropriate relative pronoun or relative adverb.

1. The monster that you saw is scary.

2. Describe the method how you recuperated.

3. I didn’t know the person who you met.

4. The way which we took is not safe any more.

5. I like the manner in which she speaks.

6. That’s the house which we want to purchase.

7. You’ll be so happy on the day when he returns.

8. Anyone who eats spicy food will like Indian cuisine.

9. There was no reason why they fired him.

10. That’s not the movie that I liked.

11. Aren’t they the people who you talked to?

12. The degree to which it rained was more than it was last year.

13. He’ll love anything that loves him.

14. He’s not the professor whom I’d recommend.

15. This is the history class that I took.

16. I haven’t found anyone that can help me.

17. The book that I read was interesting.

18. The method by which she had to practice was grueling.

19. I’m familiar with the neighborhood where she lived.

Exercise 2

Translate the underlined words.

1. a. Did you find out where he went to?

b. Yes, the place where he went is around that corner.

2. a. Can you tell me about when you were younger?

b. I like the summertime when it’s warm at night.

c. The morning when you arrived, I was not ready for you.

d. I was cooking when they boys came in.

3. a. She married the man who had the least money.

b. Her mother told her who to marry.

c. Who she marries is not my business.

4. a. I like the way in which you performed that role. (manner)

b. How did she succeed? (method)

6. a. Do you know what color she likes best?

b. This is the kitten that I want to keep.

7. a. Tell me why you don’t want to come with us.

b. This is the reason why I can’t come.

8. a. I remember when you used to sing.

b. She cried when she sang.

c. That was the night when we all met one another.

9. a. Which shirt do you want to wear?

b. I don’t know which I will take.

c. This is the shirt which I will buy.

10. a. Tell me that it’s over.

b. I didn’t know that man.

c. This is the man that I am going to marry.

11. a. I know who to invite.

b. The man who called is my father.

c. Who goes with me is not important.

12. a. Where are you going?

b. Where I am going is not your business.

c. I know the place where your meeting is.

13. a. What is this?

b. What this object is, is my main question.

c. I know what you need.

d. Yours is the room which I like best.

Exercise 3

Translate the sentences using the relative words kyo or kye.

1. We need to find a doctor to help us.

2. Did they choose a book to read?

3. This is a very beautiful place to vacation.

4. There are many dishes to wash.

5. He met the woman he wants to marry.

6. You will find the test you must take on your desk.

8. Are there interesting people to talk to at this party?

9. There’s a garden in which one can grow vegetables.

10. She needs a home to go to when she’s not feeling well.

11. Will you choose a charity to which to donate?