Relativselause

Relativselause, also known as relative clauses, are a type of subordinate clause that modifies a noun or noun phrase. They typically begin with a relative pronoun such as who, whom, whose, which, or that, or a relative adverb like where, when, or why. These clauses provide additional information about the noun they refer to, clarifying its identity or describing its characteristics.

For example, in the sentence "The book that is on the table is mine," the relative clause "that is on the table" modifies the noun "book," specifying which book is being referred to. Similarly, in "She is the woman whose car was stolen," the relative clause "whose car was stolen" provides identifying information about the woman.

There are two main types of relative clauses: restrictive and non-restrictive. Restrictive relative clauses are essential to the meaning of the sentence; they identify or define the noun they modify. If removed, the meaning of the sentence would change significantly or become unclear. Non-restrictive relative clauses, on the other hand, provide additional, non-essential information. They are set off by commas and can be removed without altering the core meaning of the sentence. For instance, "My brother, who lives in London, is visiting next week" uses a non-restrictive clause. The main point is that the brother is visiting, and the fact that he lives in London is extra detail.