Free (Nominal) Relative Clauses
C1 AdvancedFree relative clauses, also known as nominal relative clauses, function as noun phrases and contain their own antecedent within the relative pronoun. They are commonly used for emphasis or to define specific requirements and preferences.
Overview
A free relative clause acts as a noun phrase within a sentence, serving as a subject, object, or complement. Unlike standard relative clauses, they do not follow a noun; instead, the relative pronoun (usually what, where, whoever, or whatever) represents both the relative word and the thing it refers to.
Form
Wh- word + subject + verb (+ object/complement)
The clause begins with a wh- word and contains a subject and a verb. When the clause acts as the subject, the main verb of the sentence follows the entire clause.
Examples
Common mistakes
The thing what I want is coffee.
What I want is coffee.
A free relative clause does not need an antecedent like 'the thing' because 'what' already implies 'the thing that'.
Which you said was very rude.
What you said was very rude.
In nominal relative clauses, 'what' is used for unspecified things, whereas 'which' requires a specific noun to refer back to.
Free Relative vs. Indirect Question
While they look identical, the meaning depends on whether the wh- word represents a specific entity or an unknown piece of information.
| Feature | Free Relative Clause | Indirect Question |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Acts as a noun (the thing that) | Reports a question |
| Example | I ate what he cooked. | I asked what he cooked. |
| Paraphrase | I ate the food that he cooked. | I asked: 'What did he cook?' |
Practice
Complete the sentence: '___ (Whoever/Which) wrote this report did a terrible job.'
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Whoever
Answer:Whoever
Why:'Whoever' is the correct free relative pronoun to refer to an unknown person acting as the subject.
Rewrite using a free relative clause: 'The thing that she said surprised me.'
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What she said surprised me.
Answer:What she said surprised me.
Why:'What' replaces 'the thing that' to form a nominal relative clause acting as the subject.
Identify the function of the clause in: 'We should go to where we stayed last year.'
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Object of a preposition
Answer:Object of a preposition
Why:The free relative clause 'where we stayed last year' follows the preposition 'to', acting as its object.