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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Kinds of relative clauses
3. Relative pronouns in general
3.1. Relative pronouns in defining relative clauses
3.1.1. Relative pronoun as subject
3.1.2. Relative pronoun as object
3.1.3. Using prepositions
3.2. Relative pronouns in non-defining relative clauses
3.2.1. Relative pronouns as subject
3.2.2. Relative pronoun as object
3.2.3. Relative pronouns and prepositions
3.2.4. Relative pronoun with quantifiers, superlatives and determiners
3.3. Using ‘whose’
3.4. Using other relative pronouns
4. Nominal relative clauses
5. Material and methods
6. Describing the examples
6.1. Defining relative clauses
6.1.1. Relative pronoun as subject in the following examples:
6.1.2. Relative pronoun in object function in the following examples:
6.1.3. Using ‘whose’ for personal and non-personal antecedent:
6.1.4. Using CONTACT CLAUSES:
6.2. Non-defining relative clauses
6.2.1. Relative pronoun as subject in the following examples:
6.2.2. Relative pronoun in object function in the following examples:
6.3. Other relative pronouns in defining and non-defining relative clauses
7. Analysis
7.1. Defining relative clauses with pronoun
7.2. Contact clauses
7.3. Non-defining relative clauses with pronoun
7.4. Other relative pronouns
8. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Topics
The primary objective of this study is to examine the usage of relative clauses in English, with a specific focus on identifying which relative pronouns are employed in subject and object functions. The work aims to provide a clear structural overview of how different relative pronouns are used within defining, non-defining, and nominal relative clauses, supported by an empirical analysis of school textbooks and literary texts.
- Functional classification of relative pronouns (subject vs. object case)
- Distinction between defining and non-defining relative clauses
- Usage of 'whose', 'when', 'where', and 'why' in relative structures
- The role of prepositions in relative clauses and their syntactic positioning
- Analysis of Contact Clauses and their frequency in educational materials
Book Excerpt
3.1.2. Relative pronoun as object
In defining relative clause we can use ‘who’ (or whom) and ‘that’ as the object if we refer to personal nouns.
Quirk remarks that “whom … would seem pedantic to …people while who as the object in relative clauses is informal and tends to be regarded as incorrect.” 13 There is a much stronger preference for “that” or “zero” in this case.
“People (that) I visit … I speak to … “ rather than “People (who(m)) I visit …. I speak to …” 14
When the antecedent is a non personal noun we usually use “which” or “that” as relative pronoun.
“Is that the camera that / which you bought in London…?” 15
We also can leave out the relative pronoun when it is the object of the verb in the defining relative clause. Such clauses are called CONTACT CLAUSES because they follow directly their antecedents.
“Is that the camera (----) you bought in London…?” 16
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Defines the concept of complex sentences and provides a classification of relative clause types according to Quirk.
2. Kinds of relative clauses: Distinguishes between defining (restrictive) and non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clauses, explaining their functional differences in language performance.
3. Relative pronouns in general: Presents a comprehensive overview of the wh-series of relative pronouns and the use of 'that' or zero-relative based on case and gender.
4. Nominal relative clauses: Discusses relative clauses that act as subjects, objects, or complements, introduced by wh-elements like 'what', 'where', or 'whoever'.
5. Material and methods: Details the methodology for the empirical survey, which involved analyzing school textbooks and F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby".
6. Describing the examples: Documents numerous usage examples of relative pronouns categorized by their functional role and clause type.
7. Analysis: Compiles the statistical findings from the studied texts, quantifying the occurrence of different relative pronouns based on their function and antecedent.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes the key observations regarding the prevalence of defining relative clauses and the preferred use of specific pronouns in educational contexts.
Keywords
Relative clauses, Relative pronouns, Defining relative clauses, Non-defining relative clauses, Nominal relative clauses, Contact clauses, Antecedent, Grammar, Syntax, English linguistics, Subject function, Object function, Whose, Who, Which
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work focuses on the grammatical structures of relative clauses in English, specifically examining how relative pronouns function as subjects or objects in various sentence types.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
Key topics include the distinction between defining and non-defining clauses, the use of wh-pronouns versus 'that', and the application of possessive 'whose' and other relative words like 'where' and 'when'.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The goal is to determine the most common usages of relative pronouns in educational and literary texts and to document the syntactic rules governing them.
Which scientific method was used for the analysis?
The author employed a descriptive linguistic analysis, involving the examination, categorization, and counting of relative clauses found in a sample of school textbooks and a classic literary work.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section categorizes relative clauses based on function (subject/object), type (defining/non-defining), and the specific pronouns involved, backed by examples from the source texts.
What are the central keywords of this paper?
The paper is centered around terms such as relative pronouns, defining/non-defining clauses, contact clauses, and grammatical function.
Why are 'contact clauses' mentioned?
Contact clauses are mentioned because they represent a specific structure where the relative pronoun is omitted, which the author notes is used sparingly in the analyzed schoolbooks.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding prepositions?
The author observes that in practice, prepositions often take an initial position in relative clauses, although she acknowledges that using 'which' after a preposition is the grammatically standard form.
- Quote paper
- Heidrun Dietrich (Author), 1994, Relative clauses with relative pronouns, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/41607
