What is a restrictive relative clause?

Definition
	A restrictive relative clause is a relative clause that helps to identify the referent of the word that it modifies.

Discussion
	In some languages, a restrictive relative clause is formally marked.

Example (English)
	The man that you see

Generic
	A restrictive relative clause is a kind of
	What is a relative clause?

See also
	What is a nonrestrictive relative clause?

Sources
	Pei and Gaynor 1954 185
	Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, and Svartvik 1985 1239
	Crystal 1985:265
	Mish 1991 1006
	Comrie 1989 138–139

Context for this page:

Concept module: restrictive relative clause
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): R
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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