Lecture Two Attributive ClausesI.Definition: An Attributive Clause is a clause that serves as attribute, generally post-position,in a sentence.II. Two essential things to take note of:A. The Antecedent: that part the clause modifies/the relative refers toB. The Relative: the word (pronoun/adverb) that relates the clause to the Antecedent, andfunctions as an element in the clause.Relatives are classified into:Relative Pronouns: who, whom, whose; which, that, what, as, but, etc.Relative Adverbs: when, where, why, that, etc.e.g. One who says that is mistaken.The man (whom/who/that) I saw yesterday is named Smith.The girl whose father was a Red Amy man is the youngest in her class.The house whose roof was damaged in the earthquake is now under repair.This is the book (which) I bought yesterday.It stormed all day, during which time the ship broke up.Did you see the letter that came early in the morning?He went to the meeting and, what was worse, insisted on speaking.Such women as knew Tom thought he was honest.There is no one but knows it (who doesn’t know it).At that time when I saw him, he was quite well.We will start at the point where we left off.He refused to disclose the reason why he did it.I stay at home on the days that/when I am not busy.Please suggest a place (that/where) we can meet.The reason (that/why) I came should be clear to you.I didn’t like the way (that) she spoke to me.Ⅲ. Choice of RelativesA. Relative pronouns1. Who/that/when the antecedent refers to a person, but who is more preferable when itfunctions as subject in the clause while that is more preferable when is functions as object in the clause.e.g. Is he the man who/that sells dog?He is a man (that/whom/who) people like at first sight.2. Use which/that/when the antecedent refers to a thing, but that is more preferable,especially in oral English.e.g. Here is a book that/which describes animals.This is the book (that/which) you want.3. Use who/whom when the antecedent refers to a person, and which when it refers to athing in a Non-restrictive Attributive Clause.e.g. My sister, who is a nurse, came home last week.I spoke to Dr .Bradley, whom I met after the meeting.The current , which is very rapid, makes the river dangerous.She was fond of French, which indeed she spoke well.4. Use whom (not who) referring to a person, and which (not that) referring to a thing, when the relative is right after a preposition.e.g. The man from whom I bought it told me how to oil it.Here is the car about which I told you days ago.5. Use that (never who/which) in the following cases:a. When the antecedent is any of the indefinite pronouns such as all , little, few, much,none, etc. referring to something.e.g. All that glitters is not gold.There is not much that can be done.Are there any stations in the street?--- None that I know of.b. When the antecedent is modified/preceded by any of the Indefinite Determiners such asany, every, acc, no, etc.e.g. Any boy that wants to succeed must work hard.All the people (that) I wrote to agreed to come.Goats and sheep eat every plant (that) they can find.There is no difficulty that we can’t over come.c. When the antecedent is any of the compound indefinite pronouns something, anything,nothing, etc.e.g. I can tell you something that is very interesting to all.He never says anything that must be kept secret.I’m determined, and nothing (that) you say will change my mind.d. When the antecedent is modified by an adjective in it superlative degree.e.g. He is the bravest man that has ever lived.Yesterday was one of the coldest days that I have ever known.They eat the finest food that is available.e. When the antecedent is modified by the ordinal numerals or words denoting solenesssuch as last, next, etc. or words expressing emphasis such as only, very, etc.e.g. Which was the first/next steamship that crossed the Atlantic?You are the very boy (that) I have been looking for.The only thing (that) you can do now is to hope for the best.f. In a left sentence.e.g. What was it that he wanted?Was it you that broke the window?It was John who/that wore a white shirt at the dance.g. When the antecedent is the interrogative pronoun who or which.e.g. Who that have worked with him do not like him?Which of us that is 30 years old has not read the book?h. When the antecedent is a person and the relative functions as complement in the clause.e.g. He is not the man that he was.I’m not the fool that you thought me.I. When the antecedent refers to both persons and things.e.g. He talked a lot about the men and the books that interested him.6. Use who (not that) in the following cases.a. When the antecedent is those, one or he (indefinite pronoun).e.g. Will those who wish to go stand up?One who is not diligent will never prosper.He/One who makes no mistakes, makes nothing.b. When the antecedent is any of the compound indefinite pronouns: somebody, nobody,someone, anyone, no one, etc.e.g. Anyone who wants to may take part in the contest.There is someone who wants to speak to you.7. Use which (not that or who) in the following cases.a. When the antecedent, though a collective noun, denotes a whole (team), instead of itsmembers.e.g. He liked the family which was happy and friendly.c.f. I joined the family who were walking on the beach.b. In a non-restrictive clause, with the main clause, or a part of it, or a noun not referring toa person, as the antecedent.e.g. He changed his mind, which made me very angry.He has to work on Sundays, which he doesn’t like.Whenever I met him, which was fairly often, I liked his sweet smileHe looked like a lawyer (profession/identity), which he was not.8. as or whicha. Both can be used in the Non-restrictive Attributive Clause, but as-clause is flexible inposition: before or after the main clause, or in the middle of it, while which-clause is fixed in position: only after the main clause. After the main clause, they are interchangeable.e.g. As was expected, he did a very good job.As is known to all, English is very useful.English, as is known to all, is very useful.English is very useful, as/which is known to all.He was a foreigner, as/which I knew from his accent.b. Use as when the antecedent is the same or is modified/preceded by the same, so..., oras...e.g.The situation remains the same as/that it was four years ago.Here is so big a stone as no man can lift.Rosy is as good a girl as (anybody) can be.9. When what as a relative introduces a Non-restrictive Attribute serving as a parenthesis, it usually precedes the antecedent (the main clause or part of it).e.g. He is an interesting speaker and, what is more important, he knows his topicthoroughly.Then I discovered, what was news to me, that his wife was Peter’s niece.10. Use but when the relative means“that/who...not”.e.g. There is no tree but bears some fruit.There is no one but knows him.There are very few but admire his talent.There is none of us but wishes to help you.Not a day went by but brought us good news.Ⅳ. Attributive clause, restrictive or non-restrictiveRestrictive vs Non-restrictiveRestricting the meaning Giving further/complementaryof the antecedent; explanation to the Antecedent; Indispensible to the Dispensable to the essentialessential meaning of the meaning of the sentence;sentence (closely related Separated from the main clause by a comma to the Antecedent); or a dash, etc.Not separated from themain clause by punctuation marks.e.g. People congratulated the man who had just won the Noble Prize for literature.People congratulated Ernest Hemingway, who had just won the Nobel Prize.A mother who loves her son very much will devote herself to his well-being.The boy’s mother, who loves her son very much, will devote herself to his well-being.The house which/that I bought last year has a lovely garden..My house, which I bought last year, has a lovely garden.The boys who wanted to play football were disappointed when it began to rain. (Part)The boys, who wanted to play football, were disappointed when it began to rain. (Whole)His aunt who lives in Chengdu came to see him yesterday. (More than one aunt)His aunt, who lives in Chengdu, came to see him yesterday. (Only one aunt)I will not wear any clothes that/which distinguish me from others.I will not wear any clothes, which will distinguish me from others.The place where Lu Xun was born is Shaoxing.Next week, we are going to visit Shaoxing, where Lu Xun was born.V. Attributive Clause condensed/shortened into phrasese.g. The man (who is) sitting beside/next to me now spoke on the radio last night..The man (that is) being questioned by the police is my brother.The language (that is) spoken all over the world is English.The report (that was) written by my colleague appeared last week.Any coins (that are) found on this site must be handed over to the police.The naughtiest pupil in her class is an 11-year-old boy (that/who is) named Zhang Huike. Foreigners (who join) joining a Chinese dinner party should know and follow Chinese table manners.Do you know any other words (that were) borrowed from other language?Days (that are) gone by are days (that are) forgotten.The man (who can help you) able to help you is Johnson.In years (that are to come) to come, he will regret having left the country.The time (when you should go) for you to go is July.The place (where he should stay) for him to stay is the university guest house.He had a good reason (he should be angry) to be angry.He was the first (that arrived) to arrive and the last (that left) to leave.Ann, (who is) my best friend, was here last night.Mrs. Hamilton, (who was) kind and generous, offered her help.The woman (who is) with her child is Joan.The church (which is) on the square is very beautiful.。
