Login
What Are Nominal Relative Pronouns?
Nominal relative pronouns (also called free relative pronouns) are pronouns that have no antecedent and form noun clauses.
English Nominal Relative Pronouns
Here is a list of nominal relative pronouns:
what/whatever → refers to a thing
which/whichever → refers to a choice or option
when/whenever → refers to a time
where/wherever → refers to a place
who/ whoever → refers to a person
why → refers to the reason
how → refers to the manner
whom/whomever → refers to a person that acts as object
Nominal Relative Pronouns: Functions
Nominal relative pronouns are used to introduce a relative clause that acts as a noun, and like other nouns, can serve as the subject or verb complement.
Look at the examples:
I will listen to whatever you say.
'Whatever you say' acts an object for the verb 'listen.'
Where you go sounds very important to me.
'Where you go' is the subject of 'sounds very important to me.'
They made him what he is today.
'what he is today' is the complement of 'him.'
Nominal Relative Pronouns: Placement
Nominal relative pronouns head a nominal relative clause that comes before the main verb if it is acting as subject, or after the main verb if it is acting as a verb complement. For example:
I don't understand what she meant.
Here, 'what' introduces a nominal relative clause that acts as the object of the main verb.
What you decide will affect everyone.
Here, 'what' introduces a nominal relative clause that acts as the subject of the sentence, coming before the main verb.
The important thing is what you believe in.
Here, 'what' introduces a nominal relative clause that acts as the subject complement, coming after the linking verb.
Nominal Relative Pronouns vs. Relative Pronouns
'Who,' 'whom,' and 'which,' can act as both nominal relative pronouns and relative pronouns. What distinguishes the two types in that relative pronouns always form clauses that follow a noun and describe it, while nominal relative pronouns have no antecedent and form clauses that act as nouns, i.e. subjects or verb complements. Compare the examples:
The route, which we take everyday, was under maintenance.
Here, 'which' follows a noun 'the route' to describe it, so it is a relative pronoun.
Which route we take depends on the weather.
In this sentence, 'which' introduces a clause that acts as a noun, so it is a nominal relative pronoun.
Quiz:
Which sentence uses a nominal relative pronoun correctly?
The book, which I borrowed from the library, is fascinating.
Whatever you decide is fine with me.
She is the teacher who taught me math.
The house that we bought needs repairs.
Sort the words to make a sentence using a nominal relative pronoun.
Which sentence does not include a nominal relative pronoun?
Whoever wins the race will receive a trophy.
What she said during the meeting surprised everyone.
That he arrived late caused a lot of problems.
Which book you choose doesn't matter to me.
Match the sentences to the correct description of the function of the nominal relative pronoun.
Fill the blanks based on information form the lesson. (There are two extra option.)
Nominal relative pronouns are pronouns that have no
and form noun clauses.
Nominal relative pronouns introduce a clause that acts as a
.
Nominal relative pronouns head a clause that can come before or after the
depending on its function in the sentence.
The nominal relative pronouns "when" and "whenever" refer to a
.
Comments
(3)
Recommended
