Are these Relative or Interrogative?

Question

In the example, there are two ‘what’s. Do the two ‘what’s lead so called nominal relative clauses, or interrogative clauses? For me it’s very hard to distinguish the two types of clauses. Would you explain this?

“Everyone thinks I’m special,” he said at last. “All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell, Mr. Ollivander…but I don't know anything about magic at all. How can they expect great things? I'm famous and I can’t even remember what I'm famous for. I don't know what happened when Vol-, sorry - I mean, the night my parents died.”

Moinkent · Accepted Answer

Hi eipjoo
This is a difficult question even for native speakers. I found a very useful and interesting blog on this - see this link.
http://random-idea-english.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/exploring-nominal-relative-clauses.html

Quoting from this blog:

"In a nominal relative clause, the nominal relative pronoun refers to something known, something concrete, which can be specified. In wh-clauses, there is an implied question; the speaker doesn't know exactly what the answer will be, it is more abstract."

Based on this, I think that both your examples are interrogative clauses as the speaker doesn't even know what the answer will be, so they are abstract. But I may not be correct - quoting from the blog again:

"In fact grammarians themselves recognise that "nominal relative clauses and dependent wh- interrogative clauses are often difficult to distinguish from each other." (1). And even the experts themselves don't always agree as to which category some examples fall into. (2)"

Best wishes
Mo

CalifJim · Answer

eipjooI can’t even remember what I'm famous for.

I'd call it a fused relative construction. 'what' ~ 'that which' ~ 'the thing that'

I can't remember [your address / what I'm famous for / that which I'm famous for].

It also seems to have an indirect question analysis: I can't remember the answer to the question "What am I famous for?"

eipjooI don't know what happened when ...

This is more clearly an embedded (indirect) question, as is typical after "I don't know".

I don't know the answer to the question, "What happened when ...?"

I don't sense that it's saying "I don't know that which happened when ..." in the sense of "I don't know this city (very well)", so I don't find the "fused relative construction" analysis as convincing.

CJ

Eipjoo · Answer

You've recommended wonderful website. That's what I've been looking for. And you drew up the nectar of the long, long explanation. I've read it for around 5 and a half. Yet I've not finished yet. I would do more and be out from the maze 'a little.' Thank you very much. The site and your summarisation all are very helpful for my more understanding of the difference.

Moinkent · Answer

Hi eipjoo
I'm pleased that you liked the site and my brief summary.
I think this blog is amazing, both for native speakers and advanced learners.
Best wishes
Mo

Eipjoo · Answer

I read a news script today from an American radio.
There was words of "He loves the sense of discovery(of dinosaur fossils),"
and I just got the same pleasurable sense when I introduced into the website.
Maybe there's no site like it comparing the two clauses so well,
for I've failed to find better than that. And of course your summary has made me ready
to read, and be bettered in its understanding.

It took over six hours to read it (it takes good time while racking my poor brains to solve the examples
; I thought it has no answers.. I luckily or unluckily I found that it has its answers at the end of the page!!!)
and I've even missed even my daily routine, The Archers dictation.
But still happy, and maybe I could try the dictation later.

Thank you again very much.
Best wishes
Joo

Are these Relative or Interrogative?

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