Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marrion]

But at that moment, she doesn't stop to think why there aren't more presents or to wonder what she may have asked for that she didn't get.


From this sentence above, Is "why" a relative adverb or a interrogative adverb?

I want to have a quick answer..

[redset]

I'm not 100% sure but since you need a quick answer, I'll post. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong

I think why is functioning as a relative adverb (not a pronoun) in your sentence:

...she doesn't stop to think (about the reason why) there aren't more presents...

Why introduces the relative clause which gives more information about the noun ('the reason'). Interrogatives are used when you're actually asking a question, which isn't happening here. Here's an example:

Why was the bus late?
This is a question, so why is interrogative.

She knew why the bus was late.
(She knew the reason why the bus was late)
She's not asking a question here, in fact she already knows about the bus! Why is a relative adverb here, connecting the relative clause 'the bus was late' to the noun 'reason'.


Also you're mixing tenses in your sentence - "at that moment" implies a moment in the past, but the rest of your sentence is in the present simple. Either change it to "at this moment" (for present tense) or change your verbs to past tense ("she didn't stop to think...").

[Marrion]

I got it!!!
Thank you for your quick answer!!

I have another question.


And then from this sentence above, is "what" a relative pronounce?

[redset]

Yes, what is a pronoun (not pronounce!) and it's introducing a relative clause, so it's a relative pronoun.

[Marrion]

Thank you very much..

and may you be in happiness, ALWAYS!!

[redset]

Cheers!