Relative clauses with „wer/was“ and the continuative relative clause
Relativsätze mit „wer/was“ und weiterführender Relativsatz
Generalising relative clauses with „wer/was“ and the continuative „was“ that refers back to a whole preceding clause.
Structure
„Wer … , (der) …“ (verallgemeinernd); „…, was …“ (auf den ganzen Satz bezogen)
„Wer … , (der) …“ (generalising); „…, was …“ (referring to the whole sentence)
Details
- Part of Speech
- Syntax
- Register
- Formal/written
Explanation
This point covers two related advanced relative-clause types.
*Generalising relative clauses with wer / was** make a statement about whoever or whatever, without a concrete antecedent. The clause may be resumed by der/das* in the .
- Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen. - Whoever says A must also say B.
- Was du säst, das wirst du ernten. - What you sow, you will reap.
*The continuative relative clause with was* comments on the whole preceding clause** rather than a single . A comma precedes it.
- Er kam zu spät, was alle verärgerte. - He arrived late, which annoyed everyone.
- Die Sitzung wurde vertagt, was viele für ein Versäumnis hielten. - The meeting was adjourned, which many considered an omission.
Use was (not das) also after indefinite/neuter antecedents like alles, nichts, etwas, das Beste, das Einzige: Das ist das Beste, was uns passieren konnte.
Common mistakes:
- Writing das instead of was after alles/nichts or for a whole-clause referent.
- Forgetting the comma before continuative was.
About Relative clauses with „wer/was“ and the continuative relative clause
Generalising relative clauses with „wer/was“ and the continuative „was“ that refers back to a whole preceding clause.
Generalising: „wer“ (= whoever) and „was“ (= whatever) introduce subjectless general statements, optionally resumed by „der/das“. Continuative: a comma + „was“ comments on the whole preceding clause: „Er kam zu spät, was alle verärgerte.“ Also after „alles, nichts, etwas, das Einzige“.
Verallgemeinernde Relativsätze mit „wer/was“ und der weiterführende , dessen „was“ sich auf den ganzen Satz bezieht.
Caution
Continuative „was“ refers to the entire main clause and is preceded by a comma („…, was niemanden überraschte“). After indefinite/neuter antecedents (alles, nichts, das Beste) use „was“, not „das“.