ABSTRACT
In the traditional Arab analysis adjectival clauses qualifying indefinite nouns are taxonomically the same as adjectives, while clauses qualifying definite nouns are treated as adjuncts. Both are 'adjectival clauses' and will be so referred to hereafter, but when appropriate they will also be termed more generally 'relative clauses'. The complete clause is nominal in Arabic (and has the same distribution as any nominal relative clause) but can always be paraphrased by English restrictive relatives. When the clauses are replaced by adjectives or participles, the difference between adjectival qualification (full agreement in case and definiteness) and adverbial qualifier becomes apparent. Here the fourth empty class should be the indefinite noun as head of a non-agreeing, dependent indefinite circumstantial qualifier: but the rules are not always observed and in fact this construction does occur since the agents of verbs do not have to be definite hence the sentence is complete enough to support further adverbial qualification.
