Relative Clauses Questions Medium
Relative clauses and adverb clauses are both types of dependent clauses that provide additional information in a sentence. However, there are some key differences between the two.
Relative clauses, also known as adjective clauses, function as adjectives and modify a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They are introduced by relative pronouns (such as who, whom, whose, which, or that) or relative adverbs (such as when, where, or why). Relative clauses provide essential information about the noun or pronoun they modify and cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning.
For example:
- The book that I bought yesterday is really interesting.
In this sentence, the relative clause "that I bought yesterday" modifies the noun "book" and provides essential information about which book is being referred to.
On the other hand, adverb clauses function as adverbs and modify the verb, adjective, or adverb in the main clause. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions (such as because, although, if, when, or while). Adverb clauses provide additional information about the action, condition, or manner of the main clause and can often be removed from the sentence without altering its basic meaning.
For example:
- I will go to the party if I finish my work on time.
In this sentence, the adverb clause "if I finish my work on time" modifies the verb "will go" and provides additional information about the condition under which the action will take place.
In summary, the main difference between relative clauses and adverb clauses lies in their function and the type of information they provide. Relative clauses act as adjectives and give essential information about a noun or pronoun, while adverb clauses act as adverbs and provide additional information about the verb, adjective, or adverb in the main clause.