The leading words (also called related words) leading attributive clauses can be relative pronouns (that, which, who, who) or relative adverbs (when, where, why).
Leading words are usually located between antecedents and attributive clauses, which not only play a connecting role, but also act as sentence components in clauses.
The basic structure of attributive clause is: antecedent+guide+attributive clause.
Attributive clauses can be divided into restrictive attributive clauses and unrestricted attributive clauses:
1. The restrictive attributive clause is an indispensable attribute of the antecedent and is closely related to the main clause. If deleted, the meaning of the main clause will be incomplete or even meaningless, and the main clauses cannot be separated by commas when writing.
2. Non-restrictive attributive clauses are words attached to the antecedent, which are not closely related to the main clause. If it is deleted, it will not affect the meaning and completeness of sentence by sentence. When writing, the main sentences are often separated by commas.
First of all, the general rules for judging the leading words of attributive clauses:
(A) Relative pronouns
1. can be used to refer to both people and things, and act as subject or object in clauses.
Who is the boy reading a book?
Who is the boy reading a book? (of a person, as the subject)
The man with whom you are talking is my uncle.
The man you are talking to is my uncle. (of a person, such as an object)
The train that just left is bound for Shanghai. ?
The train that has just left is bound for Shanghai. (of things, as the subject)
Show me your favorite photos. ?
Show me your favorite photos. (of things, such as objects)
Whose can be used to refer to both people and things, and it acts as an attribute in clauses.
This is the girl whose math book is lost.
This is the girl who lost her math book. (of a person as an attribute)
The house with the windows closed is mine.
The house with the windows closed is my home. (of things as attributes)
Used to refer to things, used as subject or object in clauses.
Look at kites flying in the sky. ?
Look at those kites flying in the air. (of things, as the subject)
The pen I am using is quite good. ?
The pen I am using is very good. (of things, such as objects)
4.who is used to refer to people and is used as subject or object in clauses.
Can you recognize the thief who stole from you?
Can you recognize the thief who stole from you? (as subject)
The man you want to see has come.
The person you want to see is here. (as an object)
Who is used to refer to people and used as an object in clauses.
I want to make friends with the girl you are talking to.
I want to make friends with the girl you are talking to. (as a prepositional object)
The man you want to see has come.
The person you want to see is here. (as a verb object)
(B) Relative adverbs
1.when indicates time and is used as an adverbial of time in the attributive clause.
Do you remember when the train left?
Do you remember the departure time of the train?
I will never forget the day when I joined the League. ?
I will never forget the day when I joined the League.
2.where stands for place and is used as an adverbial of place in clauses.
Is this the shoe factory where your father works?
Is this the shoe factory where your father works?
Please show me where the accident happened. ?
Please take me to the scene of the accident.
Why indicates the reason, which is used as an adverbial of reason in the attributive clause, and the antecedent is usually the word reason.
Do you know the reason why he was late for school?
Do you know the reason why he was late for school?
Please tell me the reason why you won't come. ?
Please tell me the reason why you can't come.
Second, the omission of relative pronouns.
1.who, who, that and which are often omitted when they are used as objects in clauses, especially in spoken and informal styles.
2. When relative pronouns who, who, that and which are used as prepositional objects in clauses, they cannot be omitted.
When the relative pronouns who, that and which are used as subjects in clauses, they cannot be omitted.
4. The relative pronoun whose cannot be omitted under any circumstances.
3. Attributive clauses that can only be used as leading words?
1. When the antecedent refers to something, you can only use that as the attributive clause of the leading word:
1) The antecedent refers to all, less, fever, more, any, any,? When something, everything, nothing, nothing, one.
I've done everything I can. I did my best.
He won't tell you anything he has heard.
He won't tell you anything he has heard.
2) When the antecedent is modified by all, little, fever, much, any, every, no, etc.
There are few jobs for you. There is no job for you.
I ate all the leftover food. I ate all the leftover food.
3) when the antecedent is what or which, to avoid repetition, use that more.
Which is the house that caught fire yesterday? It was that house that caught fire yesterday?
4) The antecedent is the subject and refers to the object tense in there be sentence pattern.
There are some nice and sweet apples on the table. There are some very sweet apples on the table.
5) When the antecedent is the predicative of the main clause.
This is a book that will be of great help to you. This is a very helpful book for you.
2. When the antecedent refers to a person, you can only use that as the attributive clause of the leading word:
When the main clause is a special question at the beginning of who.
Who is the man talking to the teacher? Who is the man talking to the teacher?
No matter whether the antecedent refers to people or things, you can only use the attributive clause of the leading word to express it:
1) When the antecedent is modified by ordinal number, last, next, etc.
This is the last bus you can catch. This is the last bus you can catch.
He stopped the fourth thief who was running away. ?
He stopped the fourth thief who was about to escape.
2) The antecedent is the nominalized superlative adjective, or when the antecedent is modified by the superlative adjective.
You can choose what you think is best. You can choose what you think is best.
This is the best film I have ever seen. This is the best film I have ever seen.
He is the best person I have ever worked with. He is the best person I have ever worked with.
3) When the antecedent is a numeral.
-I have two clever birds. I have two lovely birds.
-Are these the two you bought last week? Did you buy these two last week?
4) When the antecedent is modified by unique, extraordinary, last, just, identical, etc. For example:
You are the only person I met here. ?
You are the only person I met here.
This is just the shirt I am looking for. ?
This is just the shirt I have been looking for.
5) When the leading word is a clause predicative. For example:
She is not the girl she used to be. ?
She is not who she used to be.
6) Antecedents include both people and things. For example:
We often talk about people and things we are interested in. ?
We often talk about people and things we are interested in.
When the antecedent refers to something, you can only use which as the attributive clause of the leading word.
1. When the antecedent is an unrestricted attributive clause.
My dog, very old now, was ill yesterday.
My dog was ill yesterday. It's very old.
This well-written pen cost me 20 yuan. ?
This pen cost me 20 yuan. This is easy to write.
2. When there is a preposition before the relative pronoun.
This is the classroom where we studied last year. ?
This is the classroom where we studied last year.
Have you ever been to a farm with a small zoo?
Have you ever been to a farm with a small zoo?
5. When the antecedent refers to a person, you can only use who as the attributive clause of the leading word:
1. When relative pronouns are used as subjects in clauses, who is generally used.
The boy who helped you is my brother. ?
The boy who helped you is my brother.
Is the woman who rides a red bike every day your aunt?
Is the woman who rides a red bike every day your aunt?
2. When the antecedent refers to all, one, several, someone, anyone, everyone, nobody and other pronouns.
A person who doesn't work hard will never be happy. People who don't work hard will never get happiness.
Do you know anyone who can repair locks? Do you know anyone who can repair locks?
The antecedent is the subject in there be sentence pattern, which refers to people and time.
A stranger wants to see you.
A stranger wants to see you. ?
Once upon a time there was a very stupid king. ?
Once upon a time, there was a very stupid king.
4. In the non-restrictive attributive clause.
His father was ill in hospital for a year and passed away yesterday.
His father was in hospital for a year and passed away yesterday.
I know that woman very well. She often wears a red T-shirt. ?
I know that woman very well. She often wears a red T-shirt.
5. In the separated attributive clause.
I know the woman who often wears a red T-shirt very well. ?
I know the woman who often wears a red T-shirt very well.
A new teacher will teach you German tomorrow. ?
The new teacher who teaches you German will come tomorrow.