Relative Clause

Definition

A relative clause is a dependent clause that provides additional information about a noun in a sentence, often introduced by a relative pronoun such as 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' These clauses help to clarify or specify the noun they modify, creating more detailed sentences. They are crucial for connecting ideas and ensuring that sentences are more informative and cohesive.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Relative clauses can either be restrictive, providing essential information to identify the noun, or non-restrictive, offering additional but non-essential information, often set off by commas.
2. The choice of relative pronoun can affect the meaning of the relative clause; for example, 'who' is used for people, while 'which' is used for things.
3. Relative clauses can help avoid repetition in sentences by combining information instead of repeating nouns.
4. In Latin, relative clauses agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case, which is crucial for proper grammatical structure.
5. Understanding how to properly form and use relative clauses is important for constructing complex sentences and improving overall writing skills.

Review Questions

• How do relative clauses function within sentences to enhance clarity and detail?
  • Relative clauses function to add essential or additional information about nouns within sentences, making the meaning clearer and more detailed. By connecting ideas through the use of relative pronouns, these clauses can specify which person or thing is being referred to. For instance, in the sentence 'The book that I borrowed is interesting,' the relative clause 'that I borrowed' specifies which book is being discussed.
• Compare and contrast restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses with examples.
  • Restrictive relative clauses provide necessary information that defines or identifies the noun they modify, while non-restrictive relative clauses give extra information that is not crucial for identifying the noun. For example, in 'The teacher who teaches math is great,' the clause is restrictive because it tells us which teacher. Conversely, in 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting,' the clause is non-restrictive as it adds extra detail about my brother without changing the main meaning of the sentence.
• Evaluate the role of relative clauses in both Latin and English language structures, focusing on their grammatical agreements and functions.
  • Relative clauses play a significant role in both Latin and English by adding depth to sentences and clarifying relationships between nouns. In Latin, these clauses must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case, which emphasizes grammatical precision. In contrast, English relies more on word order and the use of relative pronouns. However, both languages use relative clauses to create complex sentences that convey nuanced ideas and establish clear connections between concepts.

Related terms

Relative Pronoun: A word that introduces a relative clause and relates it to a noun, examples include 'who,' 'whom,' 'whose,' 'which,' and 'that.'

Dependent Clause: A clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and relies on an independent clause for its meaning.

Main Clause: An independent clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence and expresses a complete thought.