Why do we regard 'where, when, why, how' as relative pronouns instead of relative clauses?
Don't they also follow a name and qualify that name? Wouldn't that require us to mention them as adjective clauses? Thank you so much.💯🍀
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Relative pronouns "who", "which" and "whose" are the most commonly used relative words. "How" is not used as a relative word, and "why" and "while" only marginally. "Where" and "when" are relative adverbs. Relative words have a grammatical function within the relative clause. The relative pronoun "who" has a dual function in the sentence: "Students who study grammar have a better chance at becoming confident speakers of English" - "who" both introduces a subordinate clause (as subordinators do) and performs a grammatical function of subject in its structure. "That" is just a subordinator, it doesn't have a grammatical function within the structure of the relative clause it introduces. The subordinator "that" sort of "announces" that we are about to introduce an embedded/subordinate clause.
We do not regard 'where, when, why, how' as relative pronouns. Relative pronouns are words that introduce relative clauses and refer back to a noun or pronoun in the main clause. The most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which and that. Where, when, why and how are not relative pronouns, but they can be used to introduce adverbial clauses that modify verbs, adjectives or adverbs. For example: I don't know where he lives. (where introduces an adverbial clause of place that modifies the verb know) . She was born on a day when the sun was shining. (when introduces an adverbial clause of time that modifies the noun day) He didn't tell me why he was late. (why introduces an adverbial clause of reason that modifies the verb tell) • This is how you do it. (how introduces an adverbial clause of manner that modifies the verb do)
They are not relative pronouns. They are relative adverbs!
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Relative adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. They are called relative because they introduce relative clauses. They are where, when and why. They are used to introduce adverbial clauses that provide information about time, place, even or object. Relative pronouns are words that introduce relative clauses. They are used to connect a dependent clause to an independent clause. Relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, that, and which. So, where , when, and why do not introduce relative pronouns but relative adverbs because they modify adverbs and introduce relative clauses.
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To be any sort of "clause" you'll have more than one word. For example: Texas, where I grew up, is very hot in the summer. So "where I grew up" is your clause that clarifies something about Texas, and it's introduced by "where."
It's because relative clauses are typically introduced by relative pronouns and the relative pronoun can function as a possessive pronoun, an object or a subject. A relative clause comes after a noun or noun phrase to give additional information about the thing or person in question.
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