A clause that modifies a noun — 'the book that I read'.
In precise terms
A subordinate clause modifying a noun phrase, in which one element is understood as coreferential with the modified noun. Languages differ in the strategy used: relative pronouns, gaps, resumptive pronouns or participles.
An example
私が読んだ本
the book that I read
What is going on here
Japanese places the relative clause before the noun and uses no relative pronoun at all: literally 'I-read book'. English places it after and requires 'that' or 'which'. The relationship is identical; the machinery is entirely different.
Why this matters when you are learning a language
Relative clauses are how you say anything specific about a thing you have just introduced. Learners who avoid them are stuck with short, listing sentences.
Across languages
Prenominal in Japanese, Korean, Turkish and Mandarin; postnominal in English, Spanish, Arabic. Some languages leave a resumptive pronoun in the gap, which English forbids but which is normal in Hebrew and colloquial Arabic.
Related terms
- Subordinate clauseIntermediate — A clause that cannot stand alone — it depends on a main clause.
- ClauseBeginner — A unit built around one verb, with its subject and any objects — the building block of a sentence.
- Modifier and complementIntermediate — A modifier adds optional information; a complement is required to complete the meaning.
- Word orderIntermediate — The order in which subject, verb and object normally appear.
Where to go next
- Language guides — See grammatical and lexical categories used in context.
- Terminology quiz — Test the terms on this page.