indefinite relative clause
C1Academic, Technical, Formal
Definition
Meaning
A type of relative clause that uses a relative pronoun without a specific antecedent, forming a fused relative construction that functions as a nominal element.
A clause introduced by a relative pronoun (like 'whoever', 'whatever', 'whichever', 'wherever') that does not refer back to a clearly defined noun phrase in the main clause, but instead itself acts as a noun phrase (subject, object, etc.), meaning something like 'the person who...' or 'the thing that...'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term 'indefinite' refers to the non-specific, generalised reference of the relative pronoun. The clause embeds a subordinate clause within a noun phrase role. Contrast with 'definite relative clause' (e.g., 'the person who called').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in the grammatical concept or terminology. Minor stylistic preferences may exist in example constructions.
Connotations
Purely technical grammatical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in specialised linguistic discourse in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Indefinite Relative Clause] + [Main Verb] (e.g., Whatever you decide is fine.)[Main Clause] + [Indefinite Relative Clause] (e.g., She helps whoever asks.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Whatever floats your boat' (contains an informal indefinite relative clause)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in formal policy: 'Whichever option the committee selects must be documented.'
Academic
Common in linguistic textbooks and syntactic analysis.
Everyday
Used in speech unconsciously ('I'll eat whatever you're having'), but the term itself is not used.
Technical
Core term in grammar and English language teaching (ELT) at advanced levels.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (The clause as subject) 'Whoever finishes first gets a prize.' (gets = verb)
American English
- (The clause as object) 'She can invite whoever she likes.' (invite = verb)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'You can have whatever you want for dinner.'
- 'Whoever broke the window will have to pay for it.'
- 'She goes wherever her work takes her.'
- 'The committee will endorse whichever proposal garners the most support, a process that may take weeks.'
- 'From a syntactic perspective, analysing whatever the results indicate requires careful consideration of the indefinite relative clause.'
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
INDEFINITE relatives show up to the family reunion, but you're not sure WHO they belong to—they just ARE the family. The clause itself IS the person or thing.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CLAUSE IS A CONTAINER (for an unspecified entity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with simple subordinate clauses introduced by 'что' or 'который'. The Russian equivalent often uses 'кто' or 'что' in a generalised sense (e.g., 'Кто опоздает, тот останется без билета.').
- The entire English clause translates as a nominal phrase in Russian, not as an adjective-like modifier.
Common Mistakes
- Adding an antecedent (e.g., 'The person whoever comes...' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with adverbial clauses introduced by 'whenever/wherever' (these can be adverbial, not nominal).
- Using 'who' instead of 'whoever' in standard indefinite constructions (e.g., 'I'll talk to who is in charge' is considered informal/colloquial).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences contains an indefinite relative clause?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In some analyses, yes. In sentences like 'I see what you mean', 'what' introduces an indefinite (or fused/nominal) relative clause acting as the object of 'see'. However, in Standard British English, 'what' is often avoided in formal writing in favour of 'that which' or 'the thing that'.
A definite relative clause (e.g., 'the person who called') modifies a specific, stated noun ('person'). An indefinite relative clause (e.g., 'whoever called') does not modify a separate noun; it itself constitutes the noun phrase ('whoever called' = the person who called).
They can, but often the clauses they introduce are adverbial ('Go wherever you like'). They function as indefinite nominal relative clauses when they act as subjects/objects, which is rarer (e.g., 'Wherever you go is fine with me' – subject).
It clarifies advanced sentence structure, aids in writing complex, formal sentences, and helps avoid common errors like using an unnecessary noun before pronouns like 'whoever' or 'whatever'.