ESA Pedia: Nominal Relative Clauses: Nouns in Disguise

Hi fellas! This time, ESA FKIP Universitas Riau is excited to bring you valuable reading material to enrich your knowledge. For those interested in learning English, we are here with Nominal Relative Clauses: Nouns in Disguise. Stay with us from start to finish as we explore this topic.

In the fascinating world of language, nominal relative clauses stand out because they look like full clauses but actually function as nouns. While they may seem tricky at first, understanding them will help you make your sentences more flexible and expressive. In this informative blog, we’ll explain what nominal relative clauses are, why they’re called “nouns in disguise,” and how to use them correctly.

What Is a Nominal Relative Clause?

A nominal relative clause is a type of clause that functions like a noun. Unlike regular relative clauses, it has no separate antecedent because the antecedent is already fused into the introductory word, such as what, whoever, whatever, where, or when. For example, What you said is true can be paraphrased as The thing that you said is true.

Why Are They Called “Nouns in Disguise”?

They’re called nouns in disguise because they look like clauses but act as nouns. The introductory word (e.g., what) combines the relative pronoun and its antecedent. The clause looks like a sentence fragment but works as a noun phrase.

👉 Example:

• What you said surprised me. → “the thing you said” (a noun, acting as subject)

Here, what you said appears to be a clause, but it is really a noun in disguise.

Characteristics of Nominal Relative Clauses

• Function as Nouns: They can serve as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence.
• Introduced by Nominal Relatives: These include pronouns (what, whoever, who, etc.), determiners (which, whichever, etc.), and adverbs (when, where, how, why).
• The introductory word fuses the noun and the relative pronoun, making the clause complete.

Examples of Nominal Relative Clauses in Use

• What you said is true. → “the thing you said” (subject)
• I’ll eat whatever you cook. → “any food you cook” (object)
• Whoever scores the most points will win. → “the person who scores the most points” (subject)
• Tell me where you live. → “the place where you live” (object of tell)
• How the story ends will surprise you. → “the manner in which the story ends” (subject)

Common Challenge for Learners

It’s easy to confuse nominal relative clauses with ordinary relative clauses. For example:

• I know the person who called → relative clause (modifies person).
• I know whoever called → nominal relative clause (the whole clause acts as a noun, object of know).

How to Master Nominal Relative Clauses

• Practice Paraphrasing: Try rewriting clauses as noun phrases (e.g., What you said → The thing that you said).
• Identify Their Function: Look at whether the clause acts as a subject, object, or complement.
• Use Them in Sentences: Practice with what, whoever, whichever, wherever, and more until you feel comfortable.

Nominal relative clauses may seem like ordinary clauses, but in truth, they are nouns in disguise. By practicing and recognizing their structure, you can add more precision and fluency to your English. Keep practicing, and let these disguised nouns power up your communication skills! 🎓

Source:

• lemongrad.com