An omission of a subject - relative pronoun

pdh0224 · Post by **pdh0224** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 2:03 am

Dear teacher,

The patent office's definition requires that a least one dimension of an invention be less than 100 nanometers, but smallness alone is not enough. The nanoscale element of the product or process must be essential to whatever properties make it novel.

Q : I believe a relative pronoun "that" or "which" is omitted before "make it novel". What do you think?

The nanoscale element of the product or process must be essential to whatever properties which make it novel.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:06 am

'Whatever' here functions as a nominal relative determiner, a form which simultaneously acts as a clause-connector (introducing the nominal clause 'whatever...novel' standing as object of 'to') and determines a noun within the clause (here 'properties').

No other relative words are needed, or even possible, in this type of construction.