Learn Russian: Это старый род, историю которого мы сейчас изучаем. - This is an old family line, the history of which we are currently studying.

Это старый род, историю которого мы сейчас изучаем.

This is an old family line, the history of which we are currently studying.

Breakdown of Это старый род, историю которого мы сейчас изучаем.

Questions & Answers about Это старый род, историю которого мы сейчас изучаем.

Why is который in the form которого here?

Которого is the Genitive case form. In this sentence, it means "of which" (or "whose"). It takes its gender from the noun it refers back to, which is род (a masculine noun). Therefore, we need the masculine Genitive form: которого.

Why does которого come after историю instead of before it?

In English, we would usually say "whose history" or "the history of which". In Russian, when который is used in the Genitive case to show possession, it usually comes right after the noun being possessed. So, историю которого literally translates to "the history of which".

Why is the word for history spelled историю and not история?

It is in the Accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb изучаем (we are studying). We are studying what? The history. Feminine nouns ending in -я change to -ю in the Accusative case.

I thought род meant "gender" in grammar. What does it mean here?

You are right that род means "gender" when talking about masculine, feminine, or neuter words. However, its original and very common meaning is "family", "clan", or "family line". In this sentence, старый род means an "old family line".