B2–C1 · GFG · 20 patterns

Relative and nominal clauses

Compare how English and German express relative and nominal clauses. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

01 · How to use this set

Start from the communication job

Compare how English and German express relative and nominal clauses. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Read the frame, try to complete your own sentence before opening an example, then compare the English structure with its German parallel. The point is retrieval and choice, not passive list reading.

02 · Representative patterns

Start with these reusable frames

A compact sample from the 20 patterns in this study set.

01Main clause + noun + whose + noun phrase + predicateWe need a system whose settings are easy to understand. · German parallel: Noun + dessen/deren + noun + relative predicate at end 02Person noun + preposition + whom + subject + verb + main continuationThe person to whom I sent the draft has left the company. · German parallel: Person noun + preposition + case-marked relative pronoun + subordinate clause 03Thing noun + preposition + which + relative clause + main continuationThe purpose for which the data was collected must be clear. · German parallel: Thing noun + preposition + case-marked relative pronoun + subordinate clause 04Complete clause, which + predicate commenting on that eventShe offered to help, which surprised everyone. · German parallel: Complete clause, was + comment with verb at end 05People noun phrase, quantifier + of whom + predicateWe spoke to the residents, many of whom had lived there for decades. · German parallel: People noun phrase, von denen + quantifier + subordinate predicate 06Plural thing noun phrase, none of which + predicateThey offered three alternatives, none of which met our needs. · German parallel: Plural thing noun phrase, von denen + keiner/keine/keines + predicate

03 · Complete set

Browse every pattern

The canonical list follows below. Every pattern has a stable ID and its own page for examples, translation, and reuse.

01Main clause + noun + whose + noun phrase + predicateGFG001 · Main clause + noun + whose + noun phrase + predicate / Noun + dessen/deren + noun + relative predicate at end 02Person noun + preposition + whom + subject + verb + main continuationGFG002 · Person noun + preposition + whom + subject + verb + main continuation / Person noun + preposition + case-marked relative pronoun + subordinate clause 03Thing noun + preposition + which + relative clause + main continuationGFG003 · Thing noun + preposition + which + relative clause + main continuation / Thing noun + preposition + case-marked relative pronoun + subordinate clause 04Complete clause, which + predicate commenting on that eventGFG004 · Complete clause, which + predicate commenting on that event / Complete clause, was + comment with verb at end 05People noun phrase, quantifier + of whom + predicateGFG005 · People noun phrase, quantifier + of whom + predicate / People noun phrase, von denen + quantifier + subordinate predicate 06Plural thing noun phrase, none of which + predicateGFG006 · Plural thing noun phrase, none of which + predicate / Plural thing noun phrase, von denen + keiner/keine/keines + predicate 07Main clause naming a future time, by which time + subject + will have + participleGFG007 · Main clause naming a future time, by which time + subject + will have + participle / Main clause naming time; bis dahin + Perfekt expressing future completion 08Past event clause, at which point + past event clauseGFG008 · Past event clause, at which point + past event clause / Past event clause; in diesem Moment + next event 09Whoever + singular subordinate predicate + main predicateGFG009 · Whoever + singular subordinate predicate + main predicate / Wer + subordinate clause, der + main clause 10Main verb + whatever + subject + subordinate verbGFG010 · Main verb + whatever + subject + subordinate verb / Main verb + alles/das, was + subordinate clause 11Main verb + whichever + singular noun + subordinate predicateGFG011 · Main verb + whichever + singular noun + subordinate predicate / Main verb + definite noun, relative clause selecting a member 12What + subject + subordinate verb + singular main predicateGFG012 · What + subject + subordinate verb + singular main predicate / Was + subordinate clause, + singular main predicate 13Main clause + preposition + what + subject + subordinate verbGFG013 · Main clause + preposition + what + subject + subordinate verb / Main clause + das/dem, was + relative clause or da-word + was-clause 14Whether + subject + verb + singular main predicateGFG014 · Whether + subject + verb + singular main predicate / Ob + subordinate clause, + singular main predicate 15The fact that + complete clause + singular main predicateGFG015 · The fact that + complete clause + singular main predicate / Die Tatsache, dass + complete clause, + singular main predicate 16Main clause + the possibility that + complete finite clauseGFG016 · Main clause + the possibility that + complete finite clause / Main clause + die Möglichkeit, dass + complete clause 17Main clause + the question of whether to + infinitiveGFG017 · Main clause + the question of whether to + infinitive / Main clause + die Frage, ob + subject + infinitive + soll/sollen 18The way in which + subject + verb + main predicateGFG018 · The way in which + subject + verb + main predicate / Die Art, wie + clause, + main predicate 19The reason why + subject + verb + is/was that + explanation clauseGFG019 · The reason why + subject + verb + is/was that + explanation clause / Der Grund, warum + clause, ist/war, dass + explanation clause 20Noun phrase + subject + relative verb + stranded preposition + main predicateGFG020 · Noun phrase + subject + relative verb + stranded preposition + main predicate / Noun phrase, preposition + relative pronoun + subordinate clause, main continuation