80 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, 



CHAPTER IV. RELATIVE CLAUSES. 



I. SE]SrTET<rCES IN WHICH THEY APPEAR. 



Of these, which may in brief be known as relative sentences, I 

 note as more or less axiomatic that, 



(a) They must express two or more thought-units. 



An expression of one thought-nnit, as "Men are happy," af- 

 fords no opportunity for a relative ; but an expression of two 

 thought-units, such for instance as "Men are happy" and "Men 

 are virtuous," permits the use of a relative, as in "Men ivho 

 are virtuous are happy." Also, as the number of units in- 

 creases, such increase permits the use of several relatives, as in 

 "Men ivho are virtuous enjoy a. happiness that well repays the 

 pleasures ivhich they renounce." 



(h) Two units must have a common factor. 



To illustrate, "Men are virtuous" and "Angels have wings," 

 being without a common factor, do not admit the formation of a 

 relative sentence. But "Men are virtuous" and "Men are 

 happy," having a fact-or in common, namely "Men," allow the 

 use of a relative sentence, as above. 



(c) Their common factor must he simultaneous, not successive. 



Suppose, for instance, I say that "Men are virtuous" and again 

 that "Men (human beings, they) are happy." Obviously I have 

 expressed two thought-units ; and these units have a common fac- 

 tor, namely "men." But this factor has been once conceived in 

 "Men are virtuous," has then lapsed from attention, and has 

 again been brought to attention by "Men (2)" or an equivalent, 

 in "Men (human beings, they) are happy." So long as men- 

 tal operatio^i is of this sort, a relative sentence will not be formed. 

 That is, a reinstated common factor is not available for relative 

 usage. 



