Sign in
What Are Nominal Relative Pronouns?
Nominal relative pronouns (also called free relative pronouns) are used to connect the antecedent and the relative clause.
English Nominal Relative Pronouns
Here is a list of nominal relative pronouns:
What Are Nominal Relative Pronouns Used for?
using 'whatever' as a nominal relative pronoun
Nominal relative pronouns are used to introduce a relative clause that serves as the object, a subject, or a complement.
Look at an example:
I will listen to
'Whatever you say' acts an object for the verb 'know.'
'Where you go' is the subject of 'sounds very important to me.'
It is
'How you said that' is the complement of 'it is.'
Where Are Nominal Relative Pronouns Placed?
Nominal relative pronouns head a nominal relative clause that comes after the main clause. For example:
It is
'What you thought' is a complement for 'it is.'
'Who': a Relative Pronoun or an Interrogative Pronoun?
The only way to distinguish between 'who' as a relative pronoun and as an interrogative pronoun is to check for an antecedent before 'who.' If there is an antecedent, 'who' acts as a relative pronoun, but if not, it acts as an interrogative pronoun.
Look at the example:
'Who' in the first example is interrogative pronoun because it replaces a subject. While 'who' in the second example is a relative pronoun because it describes 'the man.'
Comments
You might also like
Reciprocal Pronouns
When two or more people are doing the same thing and receiving the consequences of that action at the same time we use reciprocal pronouns.
Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are matchmakers of English grammar. They come in the beginning of relative clauses and join two clauses together. Ready to learn about them?
Impersonal Pronouns
An impersonal pronoun does not refer to a specific person or thing. These pronouns help us talk about a thing or person without mentioning what or who.
