Troubles in Understanding Free Relative Clause with the Relative Pronoun wer in German

Abstract

Abstract

            The free relative clause is a relative clause that does not attribute a single word in the main sentence but it is a part of the main sentence (Satzglied), which functions as subject or object of the verb in the main sentence. This grammar topic is considered difficult and complex for Thai students. Therefore, this academic article aims to collect troubles and introduce approaches to understand the meaning of the free relative clauses beginning with relative pronoun wer. The troubles and approaches can be classified in three main groups: firstly, troubles and approaches in analyzing the difference between the free relative clauses and the relative clauses beginning with relative pronouns der, die, das, secondly, troubles and approaches in analyzing whether the free relative clauses function as subject or object of the verb in the main sentence, and thirdly, troubles and approaches in analyzing the difference between the free relative clauses with relative pronoun wer and the interrogative clauses with wer.