Understanding Cantonese Relative Clauses for English Speakers

What is a Relative Clause?

A relative clause is a part of a sentence that describes a noun, providing additional information about it. In English, these often start with 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' Understanding how to use them correctly in Cantonese can greatly enhance your communication.

Structuring Relative Clauses in Cantonese

In Cantonese, relative clauses are handled differently than in English. Instead of placing the relative clause after the noun, as in English, Cantonese places it before the noun.

Basic Structure

The basic structure for forming a relative clause in Cantonese is: [Descriptive clause] + 嘅 (ge) + Noun.

Examples and Usage

Let's look at some examples to better understand how relative clauses function in Cantonese.