The attributive clause is used as the subject-predicate structure of the attribute in the sentence; It is mainly used to modify nouns and pronouns in sentences. The position of attributive clauses is often followed by modifier nouns and pronouns. There is often a relative word between the modified nouns, pronouns and attributive clauses, which connects the front and back parts into a whole or constitutes a noun phrase; Or form a pronoun phrase. But structurally speaking, relative words and clauses are a whole. Excluding other parts of the sentence, the composition of this noun phrase or pronoun phrase and attributive clause can be demonstrated as follows:

1) Three signs show that a person is suffering from a panic attack rather than a heart attack.

In this noun phrase with attributive clauses, there are three signs that a person is suffering from panic attack rather than heart disease:

The sign is: a modifier noun;

Namely: relative words;

This is an attributive clause indicating that a person suffocated because of a panic attack, not a heart attack.

2) People who drink a lot in this pronoun phrase with attributive clauses:

Those are: modifiers;

Who is the relative word;

Who is drunk is: attributive clause Through the above arguments, we can conclude that the position and structure of attributive clause in the sentence are as follows:

Modifier noun/pronoun+relative word+sentence (where "modifier noun/pronoun" is called "antecedent" grammatically)

Key points:

1) The internal relationship between antecedents and relational words. The relationship between antecedents and relational words is essentially mutual and interchangeable. In other words, the function of relative words is to "substitute" the meaning expressed by antecedents into clauses. For example:

They often do this because they are easily injured or feel uncomfortable when people are not usually afraid.

When people generally don't feel scared, they often feel scared or uncomfortable.

(The relative word where = antecedent (in) situation in this sentence. If this complex sentence is divided into two clauses, that is:

In some cases, they often become easily afraid or uneasy.

People are usually not afraid when they can see that the relationship between antecedents and relational words is essentially mutual and interchangeable. Another example is:

Rude people are those who behave disrespectfully.

For the rule that most people follow (antecedent).

Rude people refer to those whose behavior does not respect the rules that most people follow.

It can also be seen that "antecedent" is often a noun or pronoun that appears repeatedly in two clauses respectively. This is also a necessary condition for us to make attributive clauses. Otherwise, "relative words" cannot replace "antecedents" to form attributive clauses. This truth is like "copy first and then cut and paste" on the computer. )

2) The meaning of antecedent determines the choice of relative words. The choice of "relative words" is often determined by the meaning of "antecedent" itself and its grammatical function in clauses.

This means that if the meaning expressed by "antecedent" itself is "the meaning of people" or "the meaning of things", then we will choose "antecedent" to express "the meaning of people" or "the meaning of things" accordingly. The grammatical function of antecedents in clauses is also an important condition to decide the choice of relative words. For example, they are all "antecedents" that express "human will". If it is used as a subject in a clause, it is necessary to use "relative words" in the nominative form expressing "people's meaning". If it is used as an attribute in a clause, it is necessary to use "relative words" in the possessive form of "human meaning". In addition, sometimes "antecedent" itself is a noun to express things, but it forms a phrase with prepositions in clauses and acts as an adverbial in clauses. In this case, we should use "relative adverbs" instead of "relative pronouns". For example:

Some successful language learners often fail in other fields.

Some people who are very successful in language learning often accomplish nothing in other fields.

There are some students in our class whose home is not in Wuhan.

Some students in our class don't live in Wuhan.

There are many sounds that are meaningful, but they are not words.

There are many sounds that are meaningful, but they are not words.

Tell him to go to the classroom where we often have English classes.

If this complex sentence is divided into two clauses, that is:

Tell him to go to the classroom. We often have English classes in the classroom.

Tell him to go to the classroom where we often have English classes.

(A) Relational words

From the previous discussion, we can clearly see that relative words are very important in the formation of attributive clauses. We can even say that if we don't have a good grasp of relative words, we won't make attributive clauses, and we can't understand the meaning of the part with attributive clauses in the text. So, let's discuss the related issues of relative words first.

There are only two kinds of relative words in attributive clauses: relative pronouns and relative adverbs; There is no conjunction. In other words, all relative words in the attributive clause not only have specific meanings, but also act as some components in the clause.

1) relative pronouns: who, who, who, which, that, etc.

Used to replace the antecedent of "expressing people's will" as the subject in the clause; In modern English, it can also replace whom as the object of clause verbs. For example:

I don't know who wrote this article.

I don't know the person who wrote this article.

The little boy who is singing there can recite quite a few China poems.

Used to replace the antecedent of "expressing people's meaning" and as the object of verbs or prepositions in clauses. In modern English, if who is the object of a verb in a clause, it can be used with WHO. But if whois used as the object of a preposition in a clause, then whois can only be used and cannot be shared with who. Of course, if prepositions are not advanced in spoken or informal style, there is no such requirement. For example:

Who is the girl with whom you talked just now?

Who is the girl you talked to just now?

Yesterday, I happened to meet the professor I met at a party in the shopping mall.

I happened to meet the professor I met at the party in the shopping mall yesterday.

They are looking for the patient who the doctor has just operated on. They are looking for patients whose doctors have just operated.

(The relative pronoun who replaces the patient in the sentence and is the object of the preposition on in the clause. The preposition on comes before the relative pronoun, so who and who can never be used in general, and who can only be used here. )

Who was that girl you were talking to just now? (error)

(The relative pronoun whom(who) in the sentence replaces girl and acts as the object of the preposition to in the clause. However, since the preposition to has been mentioned before the relative pronoun, and who and who can never be used in common, it is wrong to continue to use the sentence of who. Who can only be used here? )

Used to replace the antecedent of "expressing the meaning of people or things" As an attribute in a clause, it often forms a noun phrase together with the noun it modifies and acts as a component in the clause. Who usually means "of someone or something" For example:

Do you know the girl's name? Her brother is your roommate.

Do you know the name of the girl whose brother is in your bedroom?

Water with a boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius has no color and no taste.

Water with a boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius is colorless and tasteless.

Used to replace the antecedent of "expressing the meaning of things" as subject and object in clauses. For example:

Brand-new or foreign views may also be difficult to accept.

Those brand-new or foreign views may be hard to accept.

I have a novel that you might like to read.

I have a novel that you may want to read.

That was an unforgivable mistake. This is an unforgivable mistake.

It is not only used to replace the antecedent "expressing people's meaning", but also used to replace the antecedent "expressing things 'meaning". It can be used as both the subject and the object of a predicate verb in a clause, but it cannot be used as the object of a preposition. Within a certain range, that = who/who/which. For example:

Brand-new or foreign views may also be difficult to accept.

Those brand-new or foreign views may be hard to accept.

Working-class people who earn more than several thousand dollars must pay a certain percentage of their salary to the federal government.

Who is the girl you talked to just now? (error)

Key points:

Relative pronouns as objects in attributive clauses can be omitted; If relative pronouns are used as objects in attributive clauses, they can be omitted. For example:

This is the book you were looking for yesterday.

This is the book you looked for yesterday.

I don't like the novel you are reading.

I don't like the novel you read.

Who is the man you are talking about?

Who is the man you are talking about?

In attributive clauses, the singular and plural numbers of relative pronouns depend on the singular and plural numbers of antecedents. For example:

Those who are in their forties are required to have a physical examination this afternoon.

(the antecedent is plural, and the relative pronoun who is regarded as plural, so the predicate verb of the clause is the plural form of are. Please ask those who are in their forties to have a physical examination this afternoon.

This is the magazine that was mailed to me.

(The antecedent the magazine is singular and regarded as a singular relative pronoun, so the predicate verb of the clause is singular. This is a magazine sent to me by post office.

The difference between the relative pronoun that and which

That and which can be used as subject and object in clauses, generally replacing the antecedent of "expressing the meaning of things" However, in the following cases, you usually only use that instead of which:

-when the antecedent itself is all, everything, something, nothing, any and other indefinite pronouns, for example:

Anything that can burn is a source of heat energy.

Anything that can burn is heat energy.

Something must have happened to you.

They can't cure his illness. They can't cure his illness.

-When the antecedent is ordinal, or the superlative or last or unique of adjectives, etc. As attributes, for example:

This is the most dramatic TV play that has never been staged. This is the most infectious TV series that has never been staged.

This is the only way to your success. This is the only way for you to succeed.

We must consider the first thing to start work.

We must consider the first thing to start work.

However, in the following cases, only which is used instead of that:

When the antecedent indicates the meaning of something and is the object of a preposition in a clause, you can only use which. Of course, if prepositions are not advanced in spoken or informal style, there is no such requirement. For example:

The world we live in is made of matter.

The world we live in is made up of matter.

Ocean currents affect the climate of the nearby land where they flow.

Ocean currents affect the climate of the nearby areas where they flow.

The world we live in is made of matter.

(correct. Because relative pronouns are the objects of prepositions in clauses, but prepositions are not advanced, there is no such requirement. )

The world we live in is made up of matter.

The world we live in is made of matter.

(error. Because relative pronouns are used as the object of prepositions in clauses, prepositions have come first, so this requirement must be followed. )

-In non-restrictive attributive clauses (explained later), when relative words express the meaning of things, they can only use which. This is grammatically stipulated and there is no explanation. For example:

The sun heats the earth, which makes plant growth possible.

The sun gives the earth heat, which makes it possible for plants to grow.

The most important form of energy is electricity, which is widely used in our daily life. The most important form of energy is electric energy, which is widely used in our daily life.

As can be used as a relative pronoun to guide restrictive attributive clauses and non-restrictive attributive clauses. For example, restrictive attributive clauses (often used in such sentences, such as … as and the same … as).

These points you mentioned are very important to solve this problem.

These aspects you mentioned are really important to solve this problem.

Such a person as you described is rare now.

The kind of person you described is rare now.

This computer has the same function as that one.

This computer has the same function as that one.

Non-restrictive attributive clauses (as can be used as a relative pronoun to guide non-restrictive attributive clauses, and as refers to the whole sentence: that is, the whole main clause is regarded as a matter or a fact; And supplement and explain it. This kind of non-restrictive attributive clause can be placed before or after the main clause. )

As far as I know, she is not married. As far as I know, she is not married.

As expected, they won the first place in the competition.

As expected, they won the first place in the competition.

As we all know, Professor Li is a very popular student. As we all know, Professor Li is very popular with students.

2) Relative adverbs: when, where, why, etc. In the attributive clause, the relative adverb = preposition +which. In other words, each relative adverb itself already contains a preposition: when = when, where = where, why = why, and so on. As for which preposition to use in English, it depends on the specific situation.

When replaces the noun indicating time, and this noun forms a phrase with a preposition in the clause and acts as an adverbial in the clause, for example:

People will always remember the moment when Hong Kong and Macao returned to the motherland.

People will always remember the moment when Hong Kong and Macao returned to the motherland.

He came when we needed help. He came when we needed help.

We don't know the exact time of the English evening. We don't know the exact time of the English evening.

Where replaces the noun indicating the place, which forms a phrase with the preposition in the clause and acts as an adverbial in the clause. For example:

The place where we will hold the speech contest has not been decided yet.

He lives in a newly-built house where there used to be a pond. The new house where he lives now is the former site of a pond.

It was a beautiful campus, where I had many dreams.

This is a beautiful campus. I used to have many dreams.

Why replaces the noun indicating the reason, which forms a phrase with the preposition in the clause and acts as an adverbial in the clause. For example:

He didn't tell her why he was so happy.

He didn't tell her why he was so happy.

The reason why she was late was not acceptable.

The reason why she was late was not acceptable.

They explained to us why they had misunderstood us before.

They explained to us why they had misunderstood us before.

Preposition+relative pronoun

In this structure, relative pronouns can only be used when expressing people's meaning, which relative pronouns can only be used when expressing things' meaning. The difficult problem in this structure is the choice of prepositions, because the solution of this problem depends on many factors:

A) collocation of verbs and prepositions b) collocation of nouns and prepositions c) collocation of adjectives and prepositions, and so on. In short, it depends on the specific needs of the terms. For example:

Collocation of verbs and prepositions

He found a good job that he was qualified for. He found a job that he was qualified for.

The man with whom you talked just now will chair the meeting tomorrow. The man with whom you talked just now will chair the meeting tomorrow.

He is bargaining with the landlord about the monthly rent of the apartment. Noun+lease in+word "something is rented at a certain price").

He is negotiating with the landlord about the monthly rent of the apartment.

Collocation of nouns and prepositions

They still live in the small house where they have lived for 15 years.

They still live in the small house where they have lived for 15 years.

We have developed a method to increase production on a large scale.

She didn't realize how distracted she had been. She didn't realize the extent of her upset.

Collocation of adjectives and prepositions

A secretary whose boss is dissatisfied will be fired for her efficiency. (happy with "expressing satisfaction")

The secretary whose boss is dissatisfied with her will be fired for her inefficiency.

I found the job I've been longing for for for a long time. (eager "eager ...") I found the job I have been longing for for for a long time.

He is a learned man we are familiar with.

He is a learned man we are familiar with.

2) Types of attributive clauses

In English, there are two kinds of attributive clauses: restrictive attributive clauses and non-restrictive attributive clauses. There are obvious differences between these two attributive clauses in function and form:

Restrictive attributive clause

The restrictive attributive clause is closely related to the main clause, which plays a role in limiting and modifying its antecedent. If removed, it will affect the integrity of the sentence meaning; Sometimes it even causes confusion and misunderstanding. For example:

In order to obtain valuable timber and other resources, the rain forest is being cut down to accelerate the economic development of the country.

In order to accelerate the economic development of their respective countries, tropical rainforests are being cut down as valuable timber and other resources.

Ocean currents affect the climate of the nearby land where they flow.

Ocean currents affect the climate of the nearby areas where they flow.

They explained to us why they hated us before.

They explained to us why they didn't like us.

non-restrictive attributive clause

Non-restrictive attributive clauses are loose from the main clause in form, and there are commas between them. It does not restrict or modify antecedents, but only plays a supplementary and explanatory role. Sometimes it is also used to supplement and explain the whole sentence. Even if it is removed, it will not affect the meaning of the sentence. For the above reasons, non-restrictive attributive clauses are also different from restrictive attributive clauses in expression. In addition, in Chinese translation, non-restrictive attributive clauses are often regarded as clauses rather than attributive translation.