adjectival clause

Question

The dress which she is wearing is new.other possible patterns: The dress that she is wearing is new.The dress she is wearing is new.my question is sometimes we can't use  (that) or (omit) the subject (which,who,whom,,, ) ,in which cases i can't use that, or omit the subject?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure what you're asking.

You cannot omit that, which, or who if it is the subject of the relative clause.

The dress that is red is prettier than the dress that is blue. (Correct)

You cannot write

The dress is red is prettier than the dress is blue. (Not correct)

Maybe that's what you mean.

CJ

Saly · Answer

sorry my bad, i mean the object not the subject ,thank you

Anonymous · Answer

Group of Companies

The ------

Dear Sir

Most respectfully it is stated that my younger sister's marriage is on ---- . I need some money to meet marriage expenses .
Therefore you are requested to grant me an advance that is to be adjusted against my monthly salary.

I shall be greatful you you for in this respect

Thanking you

Name

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousGroup of Companies ...

This is completely unrelated to the topic of this thread. Please post it as a new thread.

CJ

4444mv · Answer

Hi Saly,
As subject of a clause, the relative pronoun can never be omitted.
When it is the object of the relative clause, the relative pronoun can often be omitted..

The relative clause is introduced by which (not that) when it qualifies a whole sentence: It was raining yesterday, which was rather a pity.

A non-defining relative clause is introduced by who/which ('that' cannot be used in non-defining relative clauses):
My brother, who is standing in front of John, will be your classmate.

Grammarfreak · Answer

4444mvThe relative clause is introduced by which (not that) when it qualifies a whole sentence: It was raining yesterday, which was rather a pity

4444mvAs subject of a clause, the relative pronoun can never be omitted. When it is the object of the relative clause, the relative pronoun can often be omitted.. Can you show us an example?

Sorry, I beg to differ.. "That", "which", and "where " are all typical relative pronouns which can be used to introduce other information to the main clause. The important aspect we must understand is when to use and what type of clause we need for the context; be it restrictive or non-restrictive ? I don't think there is such a term called "A non-defining relative clause". Perhaps you meant non-restrictive clause.

BillJ · Answer

grammarfreak4444mvThe relative clause is introduced by which (not that) when it qualifies a whole sentence: It was raining yesterday, which was rather a pity. Sorry, I beg to differ.. "That", "which", and "where " are all typical relative pronouns which can be used to introduce other information to the main clause.

What 4444mv says is essentially correct. "That" is not allowed with relative clauses that refer to whole clauses or sentences. "Which" is the usual relative word, though one or two of the where compounds like "whereupon" are OK.

[1a] "He wouldn't let me go the party, [which was completely unfair]"
[1b] "Our essays are due to be handed in on Monday". "Which is why we should not go the ball game".
[1c] "She told him his work was unacceptable, [whereupon he tore it up and walked out]".
[1d] *She told him his work was unacceptable, [that he tore it up and walked out]".

In [1a] and [1c] "which" and "whereupon" refer to the underlined preceding clauses, whilst in [1b] "which" refers to the preceding sentence. But when "that" is substituted for "whereupon", as in [1d] the clause becomes ungrammatical.

grammarfreak4444mvAs subject of a clause, the relative pronoun can never be omitted. When it is the object of the relative clause, the relative pronoun can often be omitted.. Can you show us an example?

Again, no real problem with what 4444mv says:

[2a] "I can't find the book (which) he recommended ___".
[2b] "She hasn't been able to contact the people whose house she's renting ___".
[2c] *"She hasn't been able to contact the people she's renting ___"

In [2a] "which" is object of "recommended" in the relative clause (as indicate by the __ gap), and can be omitted without loss of grammaticality. There are one or two exceptions to the rule; for example "whose" in the relative phrase "whose house" in [2b] is part of the object of "renting", but cannot be omitted, as [2c] shows.

grammarfreakThe important aspect we must understand is when to use and what type of clause we need for the context; be it restrictive or non-restrictive ? I don't think there is such a term called "A non-defining relative clause". Perhaps you meant non-restrictive clause.

The choice of restrictive or non-restrictive depends on whether the relative clause is modifying the noun (i.e. restrictive) or merely adding supplementary non-essential information (non-restrictive) to it:

[3a] "Snakes which are poisonous should be avoided".
[3b] "Snakes, which are poisonous, should be avoided".

The underlined relative clause in [3a] is of the restrictive kind; it implies that only some snakes are poisonous. It restricts the advice given in the main clause to only those snakes which are poisonous, and thus provides indispensible information about them. The relative clause modifies the noun "snakes" and combines with it to form a larger noun phrase.

[3b], by contrast, is a non-restrictive relative; the advice given in the main clause is not restricted to just certain snakes, but applies to snakes in general by implying that they are all poisonous and thus they should all be avoided. Unlike the relative clause in [3a], the relative clause here is not a modifier of "snakes", but just a supplementary clause, set apart by commas and adding non-essential information.

grammarfreakI don't think there is such a term called "A non-defining relative clause". Perhaps you meant non-restrictive clause.

'Non-defining' is a perfectly acceptable term often used as an alternant to 'non-restrictive", just as 'defining' is an alternant to 'restrictive'.

BillJ

Saly · Answer

Thank you so much 4444MV

Saly · Answer

Thnan you sir BillJ <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

4444mv · Answer

grammarfreakI don't think there is such a term called "A non-defining relative clause". Perhaps you meant non-restrictive clause.

Hi grammarfreak,
Both terms are used in books on grammar, restrictive/non-restrictive - defining/non-defining. (A Practical English Grammar by Thompson & Martinet, Oxford, Longman Advanced Grammar by Alexander, Comprehensive English Grammar by Eckerley, among others). If you look it up in Google, you'll find these links: www.usingenglish.com › ... › http://www.google.com.ar/url?url=http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/&rct=j&sa=X&ei=MzqDUL6BPIyo8QSDwYGYCw&ved=0CB8Q6QUoADAA&q=non-defining+relative+clauses&usg=AFQjCNFXHzTJ3LnFDZOyx_o9BV4u8eTXyg› http://www.google.com.ar/url?url=http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/n.html&rct=j&sa=X&ei=MzqDUL6BPIyo8QSDwYGYCw&ved=0CCAQ6QUoATAA&q=non-defining+relative+clauses&usg=AFQjCNFKZu15yv7EaXXAoRIB8ACqZYv0sg - http://translate.google.com.ar/translate?hl=es&sl=en&u=http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/non-defining-relative-clause.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnon-defining%2Brelative%2Bclauses%26hl%3Des%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D677%26prmd%3Dimvns&sa=X&ei=MzqDUL6BPIyo8QSDwYGYCw&ved=0CCQQ7gEwAA

Non-defining Relative Clauses - Definition of 'Non-defining Relative Clauses' from our glossary of English linguistic and grammatical terms containing .. www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/.../relative-clauses - http://translate.google.com.ar/translate?hl=es&sl=en&u=http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnon-defining%2Brelative%2Bclauses%26hl%3Des%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D677%26prmd%3Dimvns&sa=X&ei=MzqDUL6BPIyo8QSDwYGYCw&ved=0CCwQ7gEwAQ

whom, object pronoun for people, especially in non-defining relative clauses (in defining relative clauses we colloquially prefer who), I was invited by the ...

adjectival clause

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