Module 1 Concepts: Relatives

Relatives (sometimes called relative pronouns) are used to create relative clauses (a type of subordinate clause). In English, the five prototypical relatives are who, whom, whose, which, and that.

While subordinate clauses normally function adverbially, relative clauses function adjectivally within a sentence. Like adjectives, they modify a noun phrase, which is their antecedent. 

The car that hit me was changing lanes.

That refers to the car. It introduces a relative clause (that hit me) which modifies the car.

The professor whose schedule was changed threatened to quit.

Whose refers to the professor. It specifies which professor: the one whose schedule was changed.

The adverbial relatives are where, when, and why. Like pronominal relatives, adverbial relatives create clauses that function adjectively within a sentence by modifying a noun phrase.

Within their own clauses, however, adverbial relatives function adverbially by providing information about time, manner, and place. Their clauses can be restated as independent sentences with the relative replaced by an adverb:

Our great-grandparents lived in a time when the environment was less polluted.

Time: The environment was less polluted then.

Please explain the reason why you can’t turn in the assignment.

Manner: You can’t turn in the assignment for some reason.

We visited the place where the Vikings landed.

Place: The Vikings landed there.

Relatives always have an antecedent, or a preceding noun to which they refer and which they modify.

If you enjoy flume rides, head for the Rim Runner, a water ride that includes a breathtaking plunge.

That refers to the antecedent noun phrase a water ride.

An escalator transports you to the second floor where you are greeted by a fire-breathing dragon.

Where refers to the antecedent noun phrase “the second floor”

Module 1 Concepts: Interrogatives

The interrogative structure class looks very similar to the relative. Its members are who, whom, whose, which, what, where, why, when, and how.

They introduce direct questions:

• Who left this envelope on my desk?

• When was this envelope left on my desk?

• Which mail carrier brought this envelope?

And they introduce indirect questions, which are dependent clauses:

• I wonder who left this envelope on my desk.

• I asked Gail when this envelope was left on my desk.

The pronominal interrogatives are who, whom, whose, which, and what. They play a pronominal role in questions. A pronoun substituting for a noun phrase can answer questions starting with pronominal interrogatives:

Who left this envelope on my desk?

Someone did; he did.

Which cheesecake did you bake?

I baked all the cheesecakes.

The adverbial interrogatives are where, why, when, and how. They play an adverbial role in questions. For example, when can stand in for a time expression:

When are you leaving?

You are leaving then.

How can stand in for an expression of manner:

How did you enjoy the play?

 I enjoyed it greatly.