Depending on the type of relative clause, also the meaning of a sentence can change:
Examples |
restriktive relative clause |
|
Les hommes
qui
fument trop deviennent malade. |
|
The men that smoke too much get sick. |
|
meaning: Those men who smoke get sick. |
non-restrictive relative clause |
|
Les hommes, qui fument trop, deviennent malade. |
|
Men, who smoke too much, get sick. |
|
meaning: Men, who (always) smoke too much, get sick. [all men smoke and all get sick] |
restriktive relative clause |
|
Les enfants qui ne font jamais ce qu' on leur demande courent le risque de se faire mal. |
|
The children who never do, what they are told run the risk to hurt themselves.
meaning: Only those children who never do, what they are told, run the risk to hurt themselves. |
non-restrictive relative clause |
|
Les enfants, qui ne font jamais ce qu' on leur demande, courent le risque de se faire mal. |
|
Les enfants, lesquels ne font jamais ce qu' on leur demande, courent le risque de se faire mal. |
|
Children, who never do, what they are told run the risk to hurt themselves.
meaning: All children never do, what they are told and all run the risk to hurt themselves. |