top of page

Relative Clauses vs Noun-Based Structures

B2

Clauses

1. Function

This lesson focuses on the strategic choice between Relative Clauses (identification) and Noun-Based Structures (analysis). The goal is to choose the structure that fits the context: objects vs. processes, or inventory vs. reporting.


Relative Clauses: Used to identify or describe a specific noun (The which question).


Noun-Based Structures: Used to analyze an event or process as a factual block (The what question).


2. Forms


A) Relative Clauses (Adjectival Structures)


  • Pattern: [Verb Stem (+ Passive Suffix)] + [Participle] + Noun

  • Function: Identify or specify an item.

  • Example: Onaylanan proje (The approved project).


B) Noun-Based Structures (Nominal Structures)


  • Pattern: [Verb Stem] + [Nominalizer] + [Possessive]

  • Function: Present the action as a fact or process.

  • Example: Projenin onaylanması (The approval of the project).


3. Morphology


A) Relative Clause Morphology (The Participles)

This suffix turns a verb into an adjective.


The Modifier Logic (Relative Clause): The verb is now an adjective. It cannot stand alone; it must "hug" the noun: [[Onaylanan] bütçe] -> (Which budget? The approved one.)


  • -An / -en: Describes the "doer" or (if passive) the "receiver" of the action.


Active: Geciken rapor (The report that is late).
Passive Integration: [Verb] + [Passive -l / -n] + [-An]
Example: Onay-la-n-an proje (The project that is approved).


  • -DIK / -tık: Describes a noun that is the object of a completed action.
    Example: Hazır-la-dığ-ımız sunum (The presentation that we prepared).


B) Nominal Structures and the Pronominal -n-

This suffix turns a verb into a noun/concept.


The Block Logic (Noun-Based Structure): The entire phrase is a "Nominal Block." It functions like a single heavy noun: [[Bütçenin onaylanması]] -> (What happened? The approving of the budget.)


  • -mA / -me: Turns the verb into a concept/fact.

  • The -n- Linker: When a case marker follows the 3rd person possessive, the pronominal -n- is mandatory.


Example: onay-lan-ma-sı-n-dan, gecik-me-si-n-i.


C) Agency Suppression


  • Noun-based structures deliberately suppress the agent to maintain a neutral, evidence-based distance. Focus shifts from who did it to what happened.


4. Structural Guide


A) Identification vs. Fact


  • Relative Clause: Which report? → Geciken rapor.

  • Noun-Based: What happened? → Raporun gecikmesi.


B) Block Movement & Visualization

A noun-based structure behaves as one movable "Nominal Block":


  • Subject: [[Projenin onaylanması]] sevindirici.

  • Object: [[Projenin onaylanması-n-ı]] bekliyoruz.


Relative: [onaylanan [proje]]
Noun-based: [[projenin onaylanma-sı]-n-ı]


5. Usage (Strategic Choice)


  • Relative Clauses → Identification, listing, inventory-style writing.

  • Noun-Based Structures → Analysis, impact, cause–effect reporting.

  • Professional Flow: Identify first (Relative) → Analyze later (Noun-Based).

Examples


A) Basic Contrast


  • Relative: Geciken rapor yönetimi kızdırdı. (The delayed report upset the management.)

  • Noun-Based: Raporun gecikmesi yönetimi kızdırdı. (The delay of the report upset the management.)


B) Professional Variety (Mirrored Sets)


  • Relative: Tamamlanan iş yeniden değerlendirildi. (The completed work was re-evaluated.)

  • Noun-Based: İşin tamamlanması yeniden değerlendirildi. (The completion of the work was re-evaluated.)


  • Relative: Revize edilen bütçe sunuldu. (The revised budget was presented.)

  • Noun-Based: Bütçenin revize edilmesi sunuldu. (The revision of the budget was presented.)


  • Relative: Hazırlanan sunum paylaşıldı. (The prepared presentation was shared.)

  • Noun-Based: Sunumun hazırlanması paylaşıldı. (The preparation of the presentation was shared.)


  • Relative: Değiştirilen strateji uygulamaya alındı. (The changed strategy was implemented.)

  • Noun-Based: Stratejinin değiştirilmesi uygulamaya alındı. (The changing of the strategy was implemented.)


C) Case Marking and Pronominal -n-


  • Onaylanma-sı-n-dan sonra süreç hızlandı. (The process accelerated after its approval.)

  • Gecikme-si-n-i dikkate aldık. (We took its delay into consideration.)


D) Context Chain (Professional Flow)


  • Clause chain: Veriler toplandı. Analiz yapıldı. Karar verildi. (Data was collected. Analysis was done. A decision was made.)

  • Compressed (Clause → Phrase): Verilerin toplanma-sı-n-dan sonra analiz yapılma-sı-n-a geçildi; kararın verilmesi süreci tamamladı. (After the collection of the data, the conducting of the analysis was started; the giving of the decision completed the process.)


F) Contextual Contrast — The Professional Choice


  • Scenario: A manager is reporting a project delay.


  • Option 1 — Inventory Style (Relative Dominant):
    [[Geciken] proje raporu] tamamlandı. (The [delayed] project report was completed.)
    [[Onaylanan] bütçe] revize edildi. (The [approved] budget was revised.)
    (Focus: Items themselves; list-like tone.)


  • Option 2 — Analytical Style (Noun-Based Dominant):
    [[Proje raporunun gecikme-si-n-in]] süreci aksattığı görüldü. (It was observed that [the delay of the project report] hindered the process.)
    [[Bütçenin onaylanma-sı-n-ın]] operasyonu hızlandıracağı öngörülüyor. (It is predicted that [the approval of the budget] will accelerate the operation.)
    (Focus: Facts and impacts; analytical report tone.)


Strategic Insight:

Use Relative Clauses to identify or specify objects; use Noun-Based Structures to analyze causes, effects, and institutional outcomes.

Notes

  • Relative clauses are identification-oriented and stay close to the noun.

  • Noun-based structures present actions as facts, allowing for complex analysis.

  • Analytical writing favors noun-based structures for objectivity.

  • The pronominal -n- is the structural glue in complex professional chains.

  • For identifying the receiver of an action, the passive suffix (-n/-l) is mandatory before the participle (e.g., Onaylanan).

Relative Clauses vs Noun-Based Structures – FAQ (B2)


Q: What is the core difference between relative clauses and noun-based structures in Turkish?
A: Relative clauses are used to identify or specify a noun by answering “which one?”. Noun-based structures treat an action as a fact or process and answer “what happened?”.


Q: Why are noun-based structures preferred in analytical or professional writing?
A: They present events as neutral facts rather than descriptions of objects. This shifts focus from actors to processes and supports objective, report-style discourse.


Q: How does agency differ between the two structures?
A: Relative clauses stay close to the noun and often imply an agent. Noun-based structures suppress the agent and highlight the outcome or impact of the action.

bottom of page