Difference between revisions of "Relative clause"

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  (i) The Ferrari [which I can't afford e]
 
  (i) The Ferrari [which I can't afford e]
  
In this example ''the Ferrari'' is the antecedent of the relative clause ''which I can't afford e'', and ''which'' is the relative pronoun. The relative clause always contains a gap - ''e'' - which is the [[trace]] of the relative pronoun. Movement of the relative pronoun is usually treated on a par with [[wh-movement]]. See [[Relativization]], [[Restrictive Relative Clause]].
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In this example ''the Ferrari'' is the antecedent of the relative clause ''which I can't afford e'', and ''which'' is the relative pronoun. The relative clause always contains a gap - ''e'' - which is the [[trace]] of the relative pronoun. Movement of the relative pronoun is usually treated on a par with [[wh-movement]].  
  
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===See also===
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* [[Relativization]]
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* [[Restrictive relative clause]]
  
 
===Subtypes===
 
===Subtypes===

Revision as of 16:44, 21 February 2009

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A relative clause is a clause that is used to narrow the reference of a referential phrase and in which the referent of the phrase plays a semantic role. It is introduced by a relative pronoun and which modifies its NP antecedent.

Example

(i) The Ferrari [which I can't afford e]

In this example the Ferrari is the antecedent of the relative clause which I can't afford e, and which is the relative pronoun. The relative clause always contains a gap - e - which is the trace of the relative pronoun. Movement of the relative pronoun is usually treated on a par with wh-movement.

See also

Subtypes

Origin

The term relative goes back to the 16th century in English, but at the time in connection with relative pronouns.

Links

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

References

  • Smits, R.J.C. 1989. The relative and cleft constructions of the Germanic and Romance languages, doct. diss. KUB, Tilburg, Dordrecht: Foris, 1988.

Other languages

German Relativsatz