Relative Clauses
Relative clauses give us more information about people and things. They are used to combine clauses and avoid repetition. Click here to learn!
What Are Relative Clauses?
Relative clauses are dependent clauses that provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They begin with a relative pronoun, a relative determiner, or a relative adverb and function as adjectives, modifying the noun or pronoun that they follow.
Relative Clauses: Types
There are two types of relative clauses in English:
- Adjectival Relative Clauses
- Adverbial Relative Clauses
What Are Adjectival Relative Clauses?
Adjective clauses (also called bound clauses) modify a preceding noun or a noun phrase. In other words, they act as an adjective for the independent clause.
Adjectival relative clauses are introduced by:
- Relative pronouns
- Relative adverbs
- Zero relatives
Now let us explore each of them in more detail.
1. Adjectival Clauses Introduced by Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns connect the adjectival clause to the independent clause. They introduce the adjectival clause, providing additional information about the noun or noun phrase in the independent clause. The most common relative pronouns are who, that, which, whom, and whose. Keep in mind that whose must always be followed by a noun.
Pay attention to the examples:
This is my father
'Who visited us last night' is an adjectival clause introduced by 'who.' The adjectival clause describes 'my father' in the independent clause.
The book,
I don't know the man
'Whose' acts as an adjective for 'the man'.
Tip!
Warning
Some phrasal verbs have inseparable particles. As a result, particles cannot be used before whom and which. Here is an example:
He is my father
2. Adjectival Clauses Introduced by Relative Adverbs
Relative adverbs function as adverbs in a sentence and introduce adjectival clauses that modify the preceding noun or noun phrase, functioning as an adjective. Some of the common relative adverbs are when, where, why, and how. For example:
I don't remember the day. The day you saw me. → I don't remember the day
'When you saw me' is an adjective for 'the day.'
I know the school
3. Adjectival Clauses Introduced by Zero Relatives
Zero relatives occur when relative pronouns or relative adverbs are omitted from a sentence, but the clause is still understandable in context. It's important to note that the omitted pronoun or adverb must be followed by a subject. For example:
I don't remember the day when
I don't remember the reason why
I don't remember the man whothat
I don't remember the book whichthat
Tip!
Accordingly, who, that, and which followed by a verb cannot be omitted. For example:
The man
using a relative clause in a sentence
What Are Nominal Relative Clauses?
Nominal relative clauses (also called free clauses) are either a subject, an object, or a complement for the independent clause.
Nominal relative clauses are introduced by:
We will explore them in detail:
1. Nominal Clauses Introduced by Nominal Relative Pronouns
Nominal relative pronouns introduce nominal relative clauses acting as an object, a complement, or a subject for the main clause. The most common nominal relative pronouns are what(ever), who(ever), which(ever), when(ever, where(ever), whom(ever), why, and how.
Look at some examples:
I talk to
'Whomever I want' is the object of 'talk to.'
This is
'Whatever you were telling me' is the complement of 'this is.'
2. Nominal Clauses Introduced by Relative Determiners
Relative determiners and the possessive relative determiner 'whose' can also head a nominal relative clause acting as an object or a subject for the independent clause. Nominal relative pronouns are what, whatever, which, whichever and the possessive relative determiner 'whose'.
I don't know
'Which book you bought' is the object of 'know.'
'Whichever/which book to buy' is the subject.
I don't know
'Whose book you are holding' acts as an object for 'know.'
Non-finite Clauses
Nominal relative clauses can be non-finite because the verb in the relative clause can be infinitive. For example:
I don't know
Tip!
Whose can mark either an adjective clause or a nominal clause. It depends on the role it takes in a relative/dependent clause. Compare these two sentences:
I don't know
The nominal clause acts as an object for 'I don’t know.' 'Whose' is a relative determiner.
I don't know the man
The adjective clause acts as an adjective for 'the man.' 'Whose' is a relative pronoun.
Review
There are two types of relative clauses and each is introduced by different relatives.
- Adjective clauses: They act as an adjective for the preceding noun or noun phrase.
- Relative pronouns
- Relative adverbs
- Zero relatives
- Nominal clauses: They act as a subject, an object, or a complement for the independent clause.
- Nominal relative pronouns
- Relative determiners
Comments
Contents
You might also like
Adverbial Phrases
Adverbial phrases are made of two or more words and are used as the adverb of the sentence. In this lesson, you will get to know phrasal verbs.
Infinitive Phrases
Infinitive phrases are phrases that look like infinitives but they are used in special positions.
Clauses
A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate. In this lesson, we will discuss clauses in English grammar.
Nominal Relative Clauses
Nominal relative clauses are used as different parts of speeches and act as a noun or a noun phrase. Click here to learn more!
