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3.1.1.Differences in form

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This section discusses the differences in form between restrictive and non-restrictive modifiers, in particular with regard to the intonation patterns used to distinguish the two uses. In written language, the distinction is made by means of punctuation marks like commas, parentheses and dashes, which will also be briefly discussed. Pre- and postnominal modifiers will be dealt with in separate subsections.

I. Postmodification
II. Premodification

[+] I. Postmodification

Both in speech and in written language, there is a fairly straightforward formal difference between restrictive and non-restrictive modifiers in postnominal position. In speech, restrictive and non-restrictive postnominal modifiers are formally distinguished by their intonation patterns: whereas in restrictive constructions the head and modifier form one intonation unit, non-restrictive constructions are characterized by an intonation break between the nominal head and the modifier. This use of an intonation break to separate off non-restrictive modifiers reflects the status of this modifier as supplying extra information; cf. Section 3.1.2. In written language, the intonation pattern is represented by, respectively, the lack or the presence of a comma: a non-restrictive modifier is preceded and followed by a comma, whereas these commas (in particular the first one) are normally absent in the case of a restrictive modifier. This is illustrated in (3) for PP-modifiers: in (3a), the commas are absent and the PP-modifier in de schuur'in the shed' is interpreted as a restrictive modifier; in (3b) the PP in de Gouden Koets'in the Golden Coach' functions as a non-restrictive modifier and is hence preceded and followed by an intonation break/a comma.

a.	De fiets	in de schuur	is van mij.
	the bike	in the shed	is of me
	'The bike in the shed is mine.'

b.		De koningin,	in de Gouden Koets,	zwaaide	naar het publiek.
		the Queen	in the Golden Coach	waved	to the public

In (4), we show the same thing for AP-modifiers like verliefd'in love': the adjective verliefd'in love' in (4a) forms an intonation unit with the proper noun and functions as a restrictive modifier, whereas the AP tot over zijn oren verliefd'head over heels in love' in (4b) is separated from the noun by an intonation break/a comma and functions as a non-restrictive modifier.

a.		Jan verliefd	is een totaal andere persoon.
		Jan in love	is a totally different person

b.	Jan,	tot over zijn oren verliefd,	nam	elke dag	bloemen	mee	voor Marie.
	Jan	to over his ears in love	took	every day	flowers	prt.	for Marie
	'Jan, head over heels in love, brought Marie flowers every day.'

With relative clauses we find essentially the same thing, although there are some complicating factors. The examples in (5) and (6) show that non-restrictive relative clauses are preceded and followed by an intonation break/a comma, whereas restrictive relative clauses are normally not (although they may be followed by one).

a.	Mijn nieuwe fiets,	die ik gisteren heb gekocht,	is vanmorgen	gestolen.
	my new bike	which I yesterday have bought	is this morning	stolen
	'My new bike, which I bought yesterday, was stolen this morning.'

b.	De koningin,	die	jarig	is,	houdt	straks	een toespraak.
	the Queen	who	having.her.birthday	is	holds	later	a speech
	'The Queen, who is celebrating her birthday, will be giving a speech later.'

a.	De fiets	die ik gisteren heb gekocht (,)	is vanmorgen gestolen.
	the bike	that I yesterday have bought	is this morning stolen
	'The bike that I bought yesterday was stolen this morning.'

b.	De koningin	die	het langst	geregeerd	heeft (,)	is Koningin Wilhelmina.
	the Queen	who	the longest	reigned	has	is Queen Wilhelmina
	'The Queen who reigned for the longest period is Queen Wilhelmina.'

In written language, the use of a comma following the restrictive relative clause is essentially optional but common if the modified noun phrase is a subject. In particular, it is used if the verb of the relative clause immediately precedes the finite verb of the main clause, as in (6), or if the relative clause is long or complex. Note further that a restrictive clause can also be preceded by a comma if there is another (restrictive) postmodifier in between the noun and the relative clause, as in (7). Obviously, this means that the status of the relative clause, as restrictive or non-restrictive, cannot always be inferred from the use of commas alone: if the commas are absent, we may safely conclude that the relative clause is intended as restrictive, but not all relative clauses preceded by a comma are intended as non-restrictive. The conventions on comma placement can be found in language guides such as Renkema (1989: 170ff.) and Van Gessel (1992: 108ff.).

a.	De motor van de auto(,)	die net vervangen is,	bleek van het verkeerde type.
	the motor of the car	which just replaced is	proved of the wrong type
	'The motor of the car which was just replaced, proved to be of the wrong type.'

b.	Een vriend van mijn neef(,)	die bij de politie werkt,	heeft	dat	gezegd.
	a friend of my cousin	who by the police works,	has	that	said
	'A friend of my cousin who works for the police, has said that.'

[+] II. Premodification

In the case of premodification, there are no typographical differences between restrictive and non-restrictive constructions: the premodifier, which may be adjectival, participial or infinitival in nature, is not separated off from the head noun by means of a comma (unless it is clearly parenthetical). Thus the adjective dappere'brave' in example (8a) can be either restrictive (not all Germans but only the brave ones) or non-restrictive (the Germans, all of whom are brave). Similarly, there are no commas in either (8b) or (8b'), despite the fact that they differ in interpretation of the modifier: the adjective heerlijk'delicious' in (8b) is likely to receive a non-restrictive interpretation (all apples under discussion are delicious), whereas the adjective rode'red' in (8b') is likely to be given a restrictive interpretation (not the green ones).

a.		De dappere Germanen	werden	geprezen.
		the brave Germans	were	praised

b.	Mag	ik	een kilo	van die heerlijke appels?
	may	I	a kilo	of those delicious apples
	'Can I have a kilo of those delicious apples?'

b'.		Mag	ik	een kilo	van die rode appels?
		may	I	a kilo	of those red apples

In speaking, on the other hand, the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive premodifiers often is indicated: restrictive premodifiers are usually stressed (in particular in contrastive contexts), whereas non-restrictive premodifiers are not. This difference in emphasis would, for instance, distinguish the restrictive reading of (8a) from the non-restrictive one.

De dàppere Germanen

werden

geprezen.

restrictive

De dappere Germànen

werden

geprezen.

non-restrictive

Once again, however, this difference does not apply to all cases. In (8b), for instance, the adjective may be stressed, even if it is used non-restrictively, in which case the property heerlijk'delicious' is emphatically stressed for its own sake, not to restrict the denotation of the noun phrase or to indicate contrast.

References:

Gessel, Han van1992De Volkskrant stijlboekDen HaagSDU Uitgeverij
Renkema, Jan1989SchrijfwijzerDen HaagSDU Uitgeverij

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About this article

Author(s): Hans Broekhuis, Evelien Keizer

Category: Dutch Syntax

Keywords: ClauseRelative Clause

Version: 1.0, December 2015

Version history:

version	editor(s)	date	remarks
1.0	Hans Broekhuis, Evelien Keizer	December 2015

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