A complex sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause which functions as subject, object, adverbial or complement. “When you mention something or someone in a sentence, you often want to give further information about them. One way to do this is to use a relative clause.”
My explanations are based on several literatures. I used the Grammar books by Sinclair, Quirk and Swan. The examples I used I also took from school grammar books and textbooks.
We distinguish three types of relative clauses:
• (adnominal) relative clauses
• nominal relative clauses and
• sentential relative clauses
You get further information especially on adnominal relative clauses and some additional points on nominal relative clauses. But adnominal relative clauses are the central type of relative clauses.
Moreover we distinguish two kinds of adnominal relative clauses:
• defining relative clauses
• non-defining relative clauses.
Relative clauses are introduced mostly by relative pronouns. They can function as subjects or objects of verbs in the relative clause and they join sentences together.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Kinds of relative clauses
- Relative pronouns in general
- Relative pronouns in defining relative clauses
- Relative pronoun as subject
- Relative pronoun as object
- Using prepositions
- Relative pronouns in non-defining relative clauses
- Relative pronouns as subject
- Relative pronoun as object
- Relative pronouns and prepositions
- Relative pronoun with quantifiers, superlatives and determiners
- Using 'whose'
- Using other relative pronouns
- Relative pronouns in defining relative clauses
- Nominal relative clauses
- Material and methods
- Describing the examples
- Defining relative clauses
- Relative pronoun as subject in the following examples
- Relative pronoun in object function in the following examples
- Using 'whose' for personal and non-personal antecedent
- Using CONTACT CLAUSES
- Non-defining relative clauses
- Relative pronoun as subject in the following examples
- Relative pronoun in object function in the following examples
- Other relative pronouns in defining and non-defining relative clauses
- Defining relative clauses
- Analysis
- Defining relative clauses with pronoun
- Contact clauses
- Non-defining relative clauses with pronoun
- Other relative pronouns
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of relative clauses with relative pronouns in the English language. It examines the different types of relative clauses, the roles of relative pronouns within them, and how they contribute to the overall structure and meaning of sentences. Key themes of the paper include:- Defining and non-defining relative clauses
- The role of relative pronouns as subject, object, and in prepositional phrases
- The use of 'whose' and other relative pronouns
- The distinction between personal and non-personal antecedents
- The analysis of various types of relative clauses through examples
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the concept of relative clauses as a way to provide further information about individuals or objects within a sentence. It highlights the different types of relative clauses, focusing on the adnominal and nominal forms. The paper draws heavily on the work of Sinclair, Quirk and Swan, and uses examples from school grammar books and textbooks. Chapter 2 introduces the two primary types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining. It clarifies the distinction between these types, emphasizing the use of defining relative clauses in actual language performance and the preference for non-defining clauses in written contexts. It also discusses the terms "identifying and non-identifying" and "restrictive and non-restrictive" as alternative labels for these categories. Chapter 3 delves into the general characteristics of relative pronouns, highlighting their dual function as subject or object within the relative clause and their role in connecting sentences. It presents a table outlining the common relative pronouns for both defining and non-defining clauses, including personal and non-personal forms. This chapter further analyzes the characteristics of wh-pronouns, their gender and case distinctions, and the flexibility of using "that" as a substitute for other pronouns. Chapter 4, while not detailed here, likely explores the concept of nominal relative clauses, another important type of relative clause. Chapter 5 focuses on the methods and materials used in the study. This section might outline the research approach, the specific examples used, and the data sources. Chapter 6 provides a detailed analysis of various examples, illustrating the different types of relative clauses and their functions. It separates examples according to their type (defining or non-defining) and the grammatical function of the relative pronoun within each example. Chapter 7 presents the overall analysis of the data, drawing conclusions about the usage and characteristics of relative clauses with relative pronouns. This chapter likely delves into the various types of relative clauses, the patterns of pronoun use, and their implications for understanding English grammar.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The central keywords and topics of this paper revolve around the structure and function of relative clauses in English grammar. The primary terms include relative clauses, defining relative clauses, non-defining relative clauses, relative pronouns, subject, object, antecedents, personal and non-personal antecedents, and contact clauses. The paper also touches upon the work of renowned linguists such as Sinclair, Quirk, and Swan, underscoring their contributions to the understanding of relative clauses in the English language.
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- Quote paper
- Heidrun Dietrich (Author), 1994, Relative clauses with relative pronouns, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/41607
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