The Classification of Words

§ 164. The pronouns who, what, which, whose, that, w/геге, when, why, how are called 'connective' when they serve to connect clauses in complex sentences. At the same time they retain their meanings and functions of pro-nouns, pro-adjec-
¹ See M. West and P. F. Kimber. Deskbook of Correct English, Lnd.,
1957, p. 168: "To whom did ijou give ifl" is correct, but stilted, it should
be used only in formal writing, or in speeches, sermons, etc. Elsewhere
"Who did цои give it to^" is the accepted form "Whom did you give it
to~>" is a hybrid and has no justification
² The Structure of English New York, 1957.
108
tives or pro-adverbs. This combination of function's is a typi­cal feature of the connective pronouns.
In accordance with their meaning and the types ol clauses they introduce they fall into two groups: conjunctive pro­nouns and relative pronouns.
§ 165. Conjunctive pronouns serving to introduce subject, predicative object and appositive clauses (sometimes united under the general name of "noun clauses" ') present a curious combination of a demonstrative meaning \\ith that of a con­junction. In What he knows is no longer a secret (Christie) what is equivalent to the Russian то, что... . Hence the term condensed pronouns used by some authors. The essence of the matter is that the antecedent of such a pronoun is not expressed either by a noun or a noun equivalent, 'the pro­noun itself doing duty for the antecedent as well ².
Compound conjunctive pronouns in -ever (whoevet, whatever, wherever, etc ) have an emphatic nature owing to which they may be used to introduce adverbial clauses of concession as well.
Don't c/wnge you/ plans, whatever happens. (Hornby).
Whatever lie says is of no importance.
§ 166. Relative pronouns are likewise used to introduce subordinate clauses. What makes them different from conjunc­tive pronouns is a) that they ser\e to introduce but one type of subordinate clauses — the so-called 'relative' clauses — a variety of attributive clauses, and b) that they are always correlated with some antecedent in the principal clause.
E. g All the while these two solitary strollers did not for a moment think on coincidence, which lingers at man's elbow with eiery crowd in every town. (Bradbury).
Antonio walked from the lumberyard to a window where stood fine new beds. (Ib.).
One of those few evenings when he worked late she visited with any one of several neighbours. (Bradbury).
Relative pronouns, like interrogative and conjunctive ones, distinguish 'person' and 'non-person' in opposing who
¹ See Л С Бархударов, Д. А. Ш т е л и н г, op cit ,
р. 87.
² G. Curme, op. cit , р 81.
" 109
used in reference to persons to which used in reference to non-persons.
Whose and that are applied both to persons and things.
§ 167. As mentioned above, both conjunctive and rela­tive pronouns fulfil a double syntactical function in the sen­tence: they are used as some part of the subordinate clause and as a connective structural element at the same time.
E. g. They all smiled upon that genius who now circled them with his arms. (Bradbury).
The relative pronoun who introducing the attribute clause is the subject of the subordinate clause.
Reciprocal Pronouns