Blood Relations • Topic 3 of 4

Family Tree (Pointing)

'Pointing-to-a-photo' items: a person describes a relation through themselves ('She is the daughter of my grandfather's only son'). Resolve the innermost phrase first, then build outward.

Resolve the innermost phrase first

Pointing puzzles nest relations: "He is the son of my grandfather's only son." Unwrap from the inside:

  • "my grandfather's only son" = the speaker's father (the grandfather's only son must be your father).
  • "the son of my father" = the speaker himself (or the speaker's brother).
Technique. Replace each bracketed phrase with a single word in your head: "grandfather's only son" → "father", then "son of father" → "me/brother". Peel one layer at a time.

Common inner phrases

PhraseResolves to
my father's wifemy mother
my mother's only sonme / my brother
my father's only sonme / my brother
my grandfather's only sonmy father
the only brother of my mothermy maternal uncle

✅ Solved examples

1. Pointing to a man: 'He is the son of my grandfather's only son.' Who is he?
Grandfather's only son = speaker's father; his son = speaker (if male) or speaker's brother.
2. 'She is the daughter of my mother.' Who is she (speaker is male)?
Daughter of speaker's mother = speaker's sister.
3. 'He is the brother of my father's wife.' Who is he?
Father's wife = mother; her brother = maternal uncle.
4. 'She is the wife of my father's only son' (speaker female, has one brother). Who is she?
Father's only son = speaker's brother; his wife = sister-in-law.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. 'He is the father of my brother.' Who is he?
Your brother's father.
—
—
Your father
2. 'She is the mother of my son.' Who is she (speaker male)?
Mother of your son.
—
—
Your wife
3. 'He is the only brother of my mother.' Who is he?
Mother's brother.
—
—
Maternal uncle
4. 'She is the daughter of my father's wife.' (speaker male) Who?
Father's wife = mother.
—
—
Your sister
5. 'He is the son of my father's father.' Who is he?
Grandfather's son.
—
—
Your father or uncle

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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