attributivesubordinate

An attributive subordinate clause is a type of subordinate clause that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. It provides additional information about the noun or pronoun it describes. These clauses are also commonly referred to as relative clauses.

Attributive subordinate clauses are typically introduced by a relative pronoun such as who, whom, whose, which, or that, or by a relative adverb like where, when, or why. The clause itself contains a subject and a verb, and it is dependent on the main clause for its full meaning. For example, in the sentence "The book that I am reading is interesting," the clause "that I am reading" is an attributive subordinate clause modifying the noun "book."

There are two main types of attributive subordinate clauses: restrictive and non-restrictive. Restrictive clauses are essential to the meaning of the noun they modify and are not set off by commas. They narrow down the identity of the noun. For instance, "The student who scored the highest received an award." Here, "who scored the highest" specifies which student.

Non-restrictive clauses, on the other hand, provide extra, non-essential information about the noun and are set off by commas. They do not change the fundamental meaning of the noun. An example is "My brother, who is a doctor, lives in London." The clause "who is a doctor" adds supplementary information but isn't crucial for identifying "my brother." The distinction between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses is important for clarity and meaning in written English.