Your Sindarin Textbook
Chapter Five, Lesson Two: Subordinate Clauses

Chapter Five | Lesson One | Lesson Two
Introduction
Part I
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
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A subordinate clause is a sentence within a sentence.

"That/Who" for beginning subordinate clauses is (i). In English, we often leave this word out, so be careful.
Example:
I am the girl who saw uncountable orcs. - Ni i 'wenn i tírant veneg yrch.
The wind that blows. - I hûl i hwesta.
You know [that] I wish to remain. - Istach i aníron darthad.

"For he or she who" for beginning subordinate clauses is (anin), and "for those who" for beginning subordinate clauses is (ai).
For he who loves, a flower blossoms. - Anin mela loth edlothia.
Death follows [for] those who stray. - Gurth aphad ai mistar.

"When/while" for beginning subordinate clauses is (ir).
Example: I will go when I have no friends. - Bedithon ir ú-gerin vellon.

"If" for beginning subordinate clauses is (ae).
Example: If you are brave, you will fight. - Ae le beren maethathal.

Homework

Symbols that you may need:
áéíóúý
ÁÉÍÓÚÝ
âêîôûŷ
ÂÊÎÔÛŶ

Wordbank

Verbs:
Ista-knows

  • First Person Plural, Present Tense: (Istam)
  • First Person, Future Tense: (Istathon)

  • Matha-touches
  • Third Person Plural, Present Tense: (Mathar)
  • Sautha-drains
  • Imperative Tense: (Sautho)
  • Nouns:
    Innas-will
    Hwann-mushroom
    Nen-water
    Imlad-valley
    Palath-surface
    Cuil-life

    Adjectives:
    Estent-short

    Translate the following into Sindarin:
    If he touches me, I will know his will. - Ae e nin matha istathon innas dīn.
    Drain the water when the mushroom touches its [the water's] surface. - Sautho i nen ir i chwann matha balath dīn.
    We know the water that drains in the valley. - Istam i nen i sautha min imlad.

    Into English:

    Cuil estent anin matha i chwann. - Life is short for she who touches the mushroom.
    Cuil ista innasath ai mathar guil. - Life knows all wills for those who touch life.