Clauses

Question 1

Categories of words (or phrases) that can subordinate one clause to another?

Answer 1

(1) Subordinating conjunctions and (2) relative pronouns.

Question 2

Subordinating conjunctions are a type of …

Answer 2

Subordinating conjunctions are a type of conjunction that can subordinate one clause to another.

Question 3

Function of relative pronouns

Answer 3

The function of relative pronouns is to relate the words that follow them (the rest of the subordinate clause they commence) back to one particular word or phrase that precedes them.

Question 4

What does a relative clause modify?
(Mostly a …)
(It shou…)

Answer 4

Mostly a relative clause modifies a word in the main clause.

It should modify the noun or noun phrase that appears directly before it, otherwise the relative clause will dangle.

Question 5

Two varieties of relative clauses?

And what does this depend on?

Answer 5

Restrictive and nonrestrictive - the variety depends on whether the relative clause defines or describes the relevant noun.

Question 6

Restrictive relative clause does what?

Answer 6

A restrictive relative clause defines the relevant noun.

The correct relative pronoun for a restrictive relative clause is “that”; ‘that’ unambiguously defines.

Question 7

A nonrestrictive relative clause does what?

Answer 7

A nonrestrictive relative clause describes the noun or noun phrase that appears before it by adding some additional, but inessential information, about it.

The correct nonrestrictive relative pronoun for this purpose is “which”, with a comma in front of it; which (after a comma) unambiguously describes.