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Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses in Swedish
Part of Speech
Noun / Substantiv
Gender (grammatical)
Sometimes, Swedish nouns appear in indefinite form after the definite article. For example, you may see “den tid” instead of “den tiden“, as many of you have learned. Why is a Swedish noun written in indefinite form after the definite article? Arent we suppose to write a definite form of a noun after the definite form of the article, like den,det and de? The reason why nouns in Swedish are sometimes used in indefinite form after a definite article is “Restrictive Relative Clauses“.
In Swedish grammar, understanding relative clauses is essential as they serve to provide further description of a noun (the antecedent or korrelat in Swedish) in the main clause. Relative clauses can be categorized into two types: restrictive (restrictiva) and non-restrictive (icke-restrictiva) relative clauses. Each type serves a distinct function and affects sentence structure differently.
What is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause is a subordinate clause that describes or adds information to a noun in the main clause. For instance, in the sentence “the book that I borrowed,” the phrase “that I borrowed” is a relative clause providing details about the noun “book.” In Swedish, relative clauses are usually introduced by relative pronouns like som (that/which), vilken (which), and vars (whose).
Restrictive Relative Clauses (Restriktiva Relativsatser)
A restrictive relative clause is necessary for the sentence to convey its full meaning. It provides essential information that limits or defines the noun it describes. Without the restrictive clause, the sentence’s meaning would be incomplete or ambiguous.
For example:
- “De studenter som ännu inte har köpt läroboken måste göra det omedelbart.”
(The students who have not yet bought the textbook must do so immediately.)
In this case, the restrictive clause “som ännu inte har köpt läroboken” specifies a particular subset of students. Some students have bought the textbook, while others have not; the clause helps us identify only those who still need to purchase it.
Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses (Icke-Restriktiva Relativsatser)
A non-restrictive relative clause, on the other hand, provides additional, non-essential information about a noun already identified in the main clause. This type of clause can be removed without altering the core meaning of the sentence. It typically adds parenthetical information and is separated by commas.
For example:
- “Släktgården, som han ofta besökte, låg i västra Nyland.”
(The family farm, which he often visited, was located in western Nyland.)
In this sentence, the clause “som han ofta besökte” offers extra information about the family farm but is not essential for identifying which farm is being discussed.
Differences in Structure and Function
Definiteness and Word Order: For restrictive clauses, the antecedent noun often appears in an indefinite form, especially in formal or written contexts. In non-restrictive clauses, the noun is usually in the definite form and is set off by commas. This distinction reflects whether the relative clause is essential or supplementary.
- Restrictive: “Den kusin som han hade mest kontakt med bodde i västra Nyland.”
(The cousin with whom he had the most contact lived in western Nyland.) - Non-restrictive: “Kusinen, som han ofta träffade, bodde i västra Nyland.”
(The cousin, whom he often met, lived in western Nyland.)
- Restrictive: “Den kusin som han hade mest kontakt med bodde i västra Nyland.”
Omission of the Definite Suffix: In restrictive relative clauses, the definite suffix (like -en or -et) on the antecedent noun may sometimes be omitted, especially in formal contexts. This omission is not possible in non-restrictive clauses, where the noun retains its definite form.
Commas: Non-restrictive clauses are marked with commas, while restrictive clauses are not. This punctuation distinction helps clarify the clause’s function, especially in written language.
Usage with Korrelat: The term korrelat refers to the antecedent noun to which the relative clause is linked. In restrictive clauses, the korrelat’s interpretation depends directly on the information in the clause, whereas in non-restrictive clauses, the korrelat is identifiable independently of the clause.
Verb Placement and Emphasis: In restrictive clauses, the relative clause has a closer semantic connection with the korrelat, leading to grammatical rules like the non-separation of the korrelat and relative clause by other elements or comma markers. For example:
- “Boken som ligger på bordet är min.” (Restrictive)
(The book that is on the table is mine.) - “Min bok, som ligger på bordet, är den jag läser nu.” (Non-restrictive)
(My book, which is on the table, is the one I am reading now.)
- “Boken som ligger på bordet är min.” (Restrictive)
Examples of Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses
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Restrictive Example:
- “Det finns bara några platser kvar som är tillgängliga.”
(Only a few spots remain that are available.)- Here, the restrictive clause “som är tillgängliga” specifies the type of spots left, narrowing down the subset.
- “Det finns bara några platser kvar som är tillgängliga.”
-
Non-Restrictive Example:
- “Åland, som är ett populärt turistmål, är känt för sina vackra landskap.”
(Åland, which is a popular tourist destination, is known for its beautiful landscapes.)- The clause “som är ett populärt turistmål” adds descriptive information but is not necessary to identify Åland.
- “Åland, som är ett populärt turistmål, är känt för sina vackra landskap.”
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