§ 8. Attributive relative clauses can be restrictive and non-restrictive or descriptive.

1. An attributive relative restrictive clause restricts the meaning of the antecedent. It cannot be removed without destroying the meaning of the sentence. It is not separated by a comma, from the principal clause because of its close connection with it. Attributive relative restrictive clauses are introduced by:

(a) relative pronouns (who, whose, which, that, as¹ );

(b) relative adverbs (where, when);

(c) asyndetically.

¹ As introduces attributive clauses when the demonstrative pronoun such is used in the principal clause.

You could not but feel sympathy for a man who took so much delight in

simple things. (Maugham)

...but there is no private life which has not been determined by a wider, public

life. (Eliot)

All that could be done had been done. (Dreiser)

He sang a loud song... such a song as the Spanish wagoneers sing in Algeria.

(Hichens)

And he is now come to that stage of life when a man like him should enter

into public affairs. (Eliot)

They spoke no more all the way back to the lodging where Fanny and her

uncle lived. (Dickens)

There was simply nothing else he could do. (Coppard)

I think my father is the best man I have ever known. (Shaw)

2. An attributive relative non-restrictive clause does not restrict the meaning of the antecedent; it gives some additional information about it. It can be left out without destroying the meaning of the sentence. As the connection between the principal clause and the attributive non-restrictive clause is loose, they are often separated by a comma.

Attributive relative non-restrictive clauses are in most cases introduced syndetically by means of:

(a) relative pronouns (who, which);

(b) relative adverbs (where, when).

Mr. Prusty, who kept no assistant, slowly got off his stool. (Cronin)

She uttered a wild scream, which in its heart-rending intensity seemed to echo

for miles. (Hardy)

He went in alone to the dining-room where the table was laid for one.

(Cronin)

The relative pronoun that is hardly ever used to introduce an attributive relative non-restrictive clause.

He had emotion, fire, longings, that were concealed behind a wall of reserve.

(Dreiser)

A variant of the attributive non-restrictive clause is the continuative clause, whose antecedent is not one word but a whole clause. Continuative clauses are always separated from the principal clause by a comma.

A continuative clause is introduced by the relative pronoun which, rendered in Russian by the pronoun что.

Mr. Manston was not indoors, which was a relief to her. (Hardy)

But to-day... he had slept only in snatches, which was worse than not sleeping

at all. (Cronin)

For this purpose they probably lowered the bridge, which can be done quite

noiselessly. (Conan Doyle)

N o t e. — The connection between the attributive continuative clause and the

principal clause is so loose that it is doubtful whether we have here a

subordinate or a coordinate clause; it may be considered a borderline case

between subordination and coordination.