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    As PP of reason
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    The following elements can be used as relative pronouns of reason:

    • the neutral complementiser dat that
    • the interrogative pronoun of reason wêrom why

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    Nouns expressing reason are the natural antecedents for the relative pronoun of reason. The antecedent that is chiefly used is the noun reden reason. Relative clauses of reason can be introduced by the relative pronoun wêrom why, which is homophonous with the question word, or by the neutral complementiser dat that. The relative pronoun wêrom why can be followed by the complementiser as if:

    1
    De reden wêrom as er ôfset is, jout er ek oan
    the reason why if he left is gives he also to
    He also indicates the reason why he left

    The relative pronoun can also be followed by the reduced form of the complementiser, an alveolar plosive:

    2
    Dat is de reden wêrom't de oerheid sa dreech te rissen is
    that is the reason why.COMP the authorities so difficult to move is
    That is the reason why the authorities can only be motivated to take action with great difficulty

    This reduced form of the complementiser derives from dat that or from oft if, whether. Relative clauses can also be introduced by the neutral complementiser dat that:

    3
    Dat is de reden dat de satan no sa beart
    that is the reason that the Satan now so is.noisy
    That is the reason that Satan is so noisy

    Spoken language tends to prefer the use of free relatives. Free relatives of reason can only be introduced by wêrom why, not by dat that:

    4
    a. Dat is wêrom as de satan no sa beart
    that is why if the Satan now so is.noisy
    That is why Satan is so noisy
    b. *Dat is dat de satan no sa beart
    that is that the Satan now so is.noisy
    That is the reason that Satan is so noisy
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      About this article
      Author(s): Eric Hoekstra
      Category: Frisian Syntax
      Keywords: relative pronouns of reason
      Version: 1.0, December 2015
      Version history:
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      1.0 Eric Hoekstra December 2015
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