16
b. Syntactic Functions of the Relative Clauses
According to Givon 2001, a relative clause functions as a modifier, especially as a post modifier in the noun phrase. Modifying here means to
describe or to explain the antecedent in the main clause. One thing to be highlighted in this research is this research differentiates the function of the
relative clause from the function of the relative pronoun. The function of the relative clause in this research means the whole relative clause as one subordinate
clause that modifies the head noun of the main clause whether the head noun functions as a subject, an object, a complement, or an object of the preposition.
According to Murcia and Freeman 1999, the relative clause construction has the identical noun phrase with the head noun being modified in the main clause. In
this part, I am going to classify the functions of the relative clause based on whether it functions as a subject modifier, an object modifier, a complement
modifier or an object of the preposition modifier. Each explanation below shows how the relative clause functions as the modifier.
1 Relative Clause Functions as a Subject Modifier
According to Murcia and Freeman 1999, as a subject modifier, the relative clause will describe the head nounantecedent which functions as a subject
in the main clause. For example: 6
The girls who serve in the shop are the owner’s daughters Thomson Martinet, 1986.
17 The example above has two clauses.
The girls are the owner’s daughters as the main clause and who serve in the shop as the relative clause. The sentence
matrix clause in example 6 was actually derived from two sentences, a the girls are the owner’s daughters and b the girlsthey serve in the shop. When the
two sentences were combined becoming a complex sentence as the example above, we can see that the relative clause has the identical noun phrase the girls
which has been replaced by the relative pronoun who with the head nounantecedent being modified, the girls, in the main clause. In this case, the
girls is the same or identical as who. In the example above, the noun phrase the girls is the subject of the main clause. Now, we can see that, the relative clause
describes or modifies the antecedent girls which functions as the subject in the main clause. Therefore, it implies that the relative clause above functions as the
subject modifier or to modify the subject in the main clause.
2 Relative Clause Functions as an Object Modifier
Murcia and Freeman 1999 mention that, as an object modifier, the relative clause will function to describe the antecedent which occupies the position of an
object in the main clause. For example: 7
I read the book that you mentioned Murcia Freeman, 1999. Looking at example 7 above, the sentence consists of two clauses. I read
the book serves as the main clause and that you mentioned serves as the relative clause. The sentence matrix clause in example 7 was derived from the
following sentences, a I read the book and b You mentioned the book. After these two sentences were combined as the complex sentence in the example
18 above, we can observe that the relative clause has the identical noun phrase the
book which has been replaced by the relative pronoun that with the head nounantecedent being modified, the book, in the main clause. In this case, the
book is the same or identical as that. In the example above, the noun phrase the book is the object of the main clause. Now, we can see that, the relative clause
modifies the antecedent book which functions as the object in the main clause. So, the relative clause above functions as the object modifier or to modify the object
in the main clause.
3 Relative Clause Functions as a Complement Modifier
As stated earlier, Murcia and Freeman 1999 mention that to function as a relative clause, the relative clause must explain the head noun in the main clause
that identic to the head noun of the relative clause. Therefore, in order to function as a complement modifier, either to modify a subject or an object complement, the
relative clause will modify or describe an antecedent which functions as a subject or object complement in the main clause. The following examples show how the
relative clauses function both in modifying subject complement and object complement:
8 Ms. Garcia is a woman whom we can trust modifying subject
complement Warriner, 1982. 9
They declared him the new CEO who will lead Microsoft for the next five years modifying object complement My own example.
In 8, the relative clause whom we can trust modifies or describes the subject complement woman. The modifying here means to make the antecedent
19 woman more definite or clearer to the hearers or readers. The hearers or
readers will know which woman that the speaker or author means. Similar to example 8, in example 9, the relative clause who will lead
Microsoft for the next five years also modifies or describes the complement. What differs here is the complement in example 9 is in the form of object complement.
The modifying here means to make the antecedent CEO more definite or clearer to the hearers or readers. They will know which CEO that the speaker or
author means.
4 Relative Clause Functions as an Object of the Preposition Modifier
According to Murcia and Freeman 1999, in functioning as an object of the preposition modifier, a relative clause explains or modifies an antecedent
which serves as the object of the preposition in the main clause. Let’s take a look from the example below:
10 I talked with the girl who speaks Basque Murcia Freeman, 1999.
In the example 10 above, the sentence consists of two clauses. I talked with the girl as the main clause and who speaks Basque as the relative clause. The
sentence in example 10 was derived from the following sentences, a I talked with the girl and b The girlshe speaks Basque. After combining the two
sentences becoming as the complex sentence in the example 10 above, we can analyze that the relative clause has the identical noun phrase the girlshe which
has been replaced by the relative pronoun who. In this case, the girlshe is the same or identical as who. In the example above, the noun phrase the girl is the
object of the preposition in the main clause. Now, it is apparent that, the relative PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
20 clause modifies the antecedent girl which functions as the object of the
preposition in the main clause. So, the relative clause above functions as the object of the preposition modifier in the main clause.
c. Syntactic Functions of the Relative Pronouns
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