I am not related/relative to him in any way.

[angliholic]

I just want to tell you that I am not related/relative to him in any way.



Do both related and relative fit in the above and mean about the same? Thanks.

 

[ian2]

I just want to tell you that I am not related/relative to him in any way.



Do both related and relative fit in the above and mean about the same? Thanks.

I think in this case "related" is better, for "related" is an adjective and an adjective is needed here, not a noun. "Relative" is often used as a noun, as we say "he is my relative". "Relative" can also be used as an adjective, as in "these facts are relative to the accident", in which case, relative is close to related. But still most people in this context will use "related" rather than "relative" for the meaning you want to express.

 

[angliholic]

I think in this case "related" is better, for "related" is an adjective and an adjective is needed here, not a noun. "Relative" is often used as a noun, as we say "he is my relative". "Relative" can also be used as an adjective, as in "these facts are relative to the accident", in which case, relative is close to related. But still most people in this context will use "related" rather than "relative" for the meaning you want to express.

Thanks, ian2.

By the way, what do you think of the following sample? Would you use "related" or "relative?"

What he suggested wasn't related/relative to what we were discussing?

 

[ian2]

Thanks, ian2.

By the way, what do you think of the following sample? Would you use "related" or "relative?"

What he suggested wasn't related/relative to what we were discussing?

I would use "related".

 

[angliholic]

I would use "related".

Thanks, ian2.
But the original uses "relative," and that's confusing to me.

 

[baqarah131]

Related is an adjective derived from a verb. Relative is, in this context, a noun.

He's not related to me. We're not related.
He's not my relative. He's not a relative of mine.

regards
edward

Do both related and relative fit in the above and mean about the same? Thanks.[/quote]

I just want to tell you that I am not related/relative to him in any way.

 

[ian2]

Related is an adjective derived from a verb. Relative is, in this context, a noun.

He's not related to me. We're not related.
He's not my relative. He's not a relative of mine.

regards
edward

Do both related and relative fit in the above and mean about the same? Thanks.

I just want to tell you that I am not related/relative to him in any way.

AS I said before, "relative" is often used as a noun, but it definitely can be used as an adjective. I would say, which one is right totally depends on what you really want to express. What do you really mean, in other words.

 

[baqarah131]

I can't think of a way to use "relative" as an adjective if we're talking about family relationships--mother, uncle, cousin, etc.

Using relative as an adjective:

She left the kitchen and went to the relative quiet of the living room. (The living room wasn't quiet, but it was quieter than the kitchen.)

regards
edward

AS I said before, "relative" is often used as a noun, but it definitely can be used as an adjective. I would say, which one is right totally depends on what you really want to express. What do you really mean, in other words.

 

[ian2]

I can't think of a way to use "relative" as an adjective if we're talking about family relationships--mother, uncle, cousin, etc.

Using relative as an adjective:

She left the kitchen and went to the relative quiet of the living room. (The living room wasn't quiet, but it was quieter than the kitchen.)

regards
edward

You are totally right. It can't be used as an adjective to mean family relations. But it can be used as an adjective in other cases.

 

[angliholic]

Thanks, ian2 and Edward.
I think I get the whole picture now.