48.2 Introduction to Relative Clauses
We will learn the basics of relative clauses so that you can understand them if you come across them, but we won’t go into the details of how to use them in this book.
Relative clauses are used to modify nouns. A relative clause provides more information about a noun and helps us identify what the noun refers to.
Below is an example of a relative clause in English. In English, a relative clause is put after the noun it modifies.
Take the trains which go to Central.
The noun trains on its own can refer to any trains. The relative clause which go to Central provides more information about the noun and indicates that it refers to the ones which go to Central.
In Cantonese, a relative clause is put before the noun it modifies. We can use the particle 嘅 ge3 to connect the relative clause and the noun.
The noun 車 ce1 on its own can refer to any trains. The relative clause 去中環方向 heoi3 zung1 waan4 fong1 hoeng3 provides details about the noun and indicates that it refers to the ones which go to Central.We can also use 嗰 go2 (‘that’) and a classifier to connect the relative clause and the noun.
The noun 扶手電梯 fu4 sau2 din6 tai1 on its own can refer to any escalators. The relative clause 直上大堂 zik6 soeng5 daai6 tong4 provides details about the noun and indicates that it refers to the one which goes straight up to the concourse.