Relative clause

The relative clause (from Latin relativus " referring to something, concerning " ) belongs to the group of subordinate clauses and is usually used to indicate a property of an individual; it is therefore a noun dependent ( attributive relative clause ) or has even the same status as a noun group in the sentence ( free relative clause ). There are other special forms.

Relative clauses, or phrases in a similar function, are formed in the languages ​​of the world in very different ways; prevails in the German education is seen with a relative pronoun.

  • 2.1 Restrictive relative clause
  • 2.2 explicative relative clause

Syntactic construction

Introduction

The relative clause is introduced by a

  • Relative pronoun: who, which, that, synonymous with who, which, what, or who, what and inflected in all forms The car that I bought yesterday is already broken.
  • Do you know the new already, which is here only since yesterday?
  • The person who wears this shirt, looks chic in it.
  • Who wears this shirt, sees this chic.
  • That's what she says makes sense to me.
  • What she says makes sense to me.
  • Our neighbors, whose garden has a rosary come from Pakistan.
  • The cleaning lady who cleans my room is very old.
  • Where the flowers are blooming, I let myself down.

In some German dialects, especially in the southern Germans, the relative adverb where used as non-specific relative particle: the book, where I bought, I can only recommend. A jocular phrase in the Swabian caricatured this use with an additional pun: the, where the " where " say, are the ones where no German can.

Sometimes, larger units can be preceded by the relative pronoun in addition to contain additional material; this results in the so-called Pied Piper design.

Reference

The relative clause refers generally to a single sentence or member is itself a kind, namely subject or accusative object. Examples of Sabine gives the child potatoes with butter:

  • Sabine cooking just gives the child potatoes with butter. (Reference to the subject)
  • Sabine is the child who constantly screams, potatoes with butter. (Reference to the dative object)
  • Sabine gives the child potatoes, which she peels before cooking with butter. ( With respect to accusative object)
  • Sabine gives the child potatoes with butter whose quality they are not doubts. ( With respect to adverbial determination)
  • Sabine gives the child potatoes with butter, which is indeed efficient, but not very sensible of her. ( Relating to set object )
  • Sabine gives the child what it wants. ( Accusative object)
  • The child is given by Sabine, what it wants. (Subject)

In the case of the secondary relative clause this may also refer to the whole law reference:

Position

The relative clause is in most cases directly behind the reference word. Of this there are two types of exceptions:

  • Noun groups (example: the painters of the Middle Ages ) the relative clause is placed after the noun group: He even knew the painters of the Middle Ages, which were otherwise almost fallen into oblivion.
  • He had known the painter who, regardless of whether were dead or alive, forgotten by everyone else. ( Instead: He had the painters who ... knew )

Semantic function

A restrictive relative clause

The restrictive relative clause restricts the set of possible references of reference.

  • This is the article that I wanted to read ( and no other ).

Restrictive relative clauses are usually part of a definite identification; for reinforcement, the reference will receive a demonstrative pronoun.

  • This is the one item I wanted to read.

But there are also restrictive relative clauses that refer to a indefinite noun phrase reference and make these identified:

  • Yesterday I met a woman who has made with me High School.

Restrictive relative clauses are mandatory for the sentence construction, in the spoken language this by different kinds of intonation (phonetics ) is supported.

Explicative relative clause

The explicative relative clause (also appositiver, not restrictive relative clause ) gives a detailed description of the reference.

  • Jens, who was born in beautiful churches, now lives in Mainz.

Explicative relative clauses are optional for the sentence construction, the description of the reference value can also be done outside of the sentence.

  • Jens is now living in Mainz. He was born in beautiful churches.

Explicative relative clauses are attributes; to emphasize their attributive character ( and to distinguish them from the restrictive relative clauses ), you can add it to the subordinate clause an adverb.

  • Jens, by the way ( known, apparently, after all ... ) was born in beautiful churches, now lives in Mainz.
Dislocation (syntax) Apposition
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