What kinds of attributive clauses are there?

1. In terms of its relationship with the antecedent, the attributive clause can be divided into two types: finite and non-finite. The main differences between these two types are as follows:

Restrictive The attributive clause plays a limiting role. If omitted, the meaning of the original sentence will be incomplete; it immediately follows the antecedent and is not separated by a comma; it modifies the antecedent and is often translated as the attributive of the antecedent. The relative word can sometimes be replaced by that Instead, it can sometimes be omitted.

Non-restrictive attributive clauses serve as supplementary explanations. If omitted, the meaning of the original sentence will not be affected; separated from the main clause by a comma, it can modify either the antecedent or the entire main clause; often Translated into another clause, the relative word cannot be used as that, nor can it be omitted.

2. Examples

Restrictive clauses play a limiting role and non-restrictive clauses play a supplementary role:

July is the month when we have a lot of rain. July is a rainy month. (Restrictive, omitting incomplete meaning, translated into attributive)

The meeting will be put off till next month when we will have made all the preparations. The meeting will be put off till next month when we will have made all the preparations. Will be ready for anything. (Non-restrictive, omitting it will have little impact on the meaning of the main clause, and translate it into another parallel clause)

Sometimes restrictive personal name relative words can be replaced by that, while non-limiting clause relative words cannot be used that

I want to bugy the house which (=that) has a garden. I want to buy that house with a garden.

I want to buy the house, which (cannot use that) has a garden. I want to buy that house, which has a garden.

Non-restrictive attributive clauses can also use the entire main clause as an antecedent to modify it. Such as:

He missed the train, which annoyed him very much. He missed the train, which annoyed him very much.

The same attributive clause, whether it is restrictive or non-restrictive, may have very different meanings. Such as:

He has a daughter who works in a hospital. He has a daughter who works in a hospital. (Limitative, there may be other daughters, but they do not work in the hospital)

He has a daughter, who works in a hospital. He has a daughter, who works in a hospital. (Only one daughter)

I will wear no clothes which will distinguish me from the others. I will not wear clothes that will distinguish me from the others. (Restrictive)

I will wear no clothes, which will distinguish me from the others. I will wear no clothes, which will distinguish me from the others. (Non-restrictive)