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!
What Are Nominal Relative Clauses?
Nominal relative clauses are introduced by nominal relative pronouns. They are nominal because they act as objects, subjects, or complements for the main clause.
What Are Relative Clauses Used for?
Nominal relative clauses are used as objects, subjects, or complements for the main clause and they act as a noun or a noun phrase, the reason why they are regarded as noun clauses or nominal.
'When you saw me' acts as a subject for 'doesn't matter.'
It is
'What you want' is the complement of 'it is.'
I do
'Whatever you say' is the object of 'do.'
an example of using a nominal relative clause
Where Are Relative Clauses Placed?
Nominal relative clauses always come after a nominal relative pronoun that always follows the independent clause.
I don't know
'Why' is a nominal relative pronoun introducing 'why you called me' as a nominal relative clause and the object of the verb 'know.'
Nominal Relative Clauses vs. Adjectival Relative Clauses
Nominal relative clauses are objects or subjects, but adjectival relative clauses are adjectives. They add information to the preceding noun or noun phrase. There are some examples below:
I know the man
'Whose' here is a relative pronoun, introducing an adjective relative clause.
I know
'Whose' is a possessive relative determiner introducing a nominal relative clause.
Review
Nominal relative clauses can be followed by a noun or it can also be followed by a to-infinitive. Nominal relative clauses are used as:
- subjects
- objects
- complements
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