Relative Clause

Definition

A relative clause is an embedded clause that can modify a nominal adjunct head. (Suttles, 2003, p. 95) These clauses are a result from “extraction” i.e., it appears as though one of the nominals from the simple (original) clause is missing in the relative clause, having been extracted so that it may appear as the relative clause head. In this way, a relative clause singles out a participant in an event or condition to identify that participant with a different event or conditions. Relative clauses often appear modifying noun heads, but they can also follow an article or demonstrative. (Suttles, 2003, pp. 96-97)

Examples

Example in the Halkomelem Context of a Relative Clause Outlined in Square Brackets [] (Suttles, 2003, pp. 95)

References

Suttles, W. (2004). Musqueum reference grammar. UBC Press. SFU Student Access.