relation/relationship

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello!
I would really like to know what is the difference between ‘relation’ and ‘relationship’? so the importance of this suffix: ship what does the suffix ‘ship’ change, in fact?
Thank you for your time!

2

The -ship suffix normally indicates a condition. Originally, the person you had a connection to was a relation, and the connection was a relationship.

Over the years, the oerson you have a connection to has become a relation only if you are members of the same family, while people have used relation as a synonym of relationship.

I can’t think of any time when you can’t use relation instead of relationship, although there are obviously times you cannot use relationship for relation.

3

Then, what can be the difference between ‘relative’ and ‘relation’?

4

Hi THL,

The problem with these two words ‘relative’ and ‘relation’ is that they have as it were ‘different lives’. ‘Relative’ can be both noun and adjective and ‘relation’ can be either a member of the family or a connection, often used in the plural. Thinking about the two words used to describe a member of the family, I would say that ‘relative’ suggests someone in the immediate family and ‘relation’ could be someone more remote. This is of course a very general distinction but you would tend to say: A close relative of the family has just got married/A distant relation of hers has just died and left her a house in the heart of the country.

Alan

5

Hi THL,

The problem with these two words ‘relative’ and ‘relation’ is that they have as it were ‘different lives’. ‘Relative’ can be both noun and adjective and ‘relation’ can be either a member of the family or a connection, often used in the plural. Thinking about the two words used to describe a member of the family, I would say that ‘relative’ suggests someone in the immediate family and ‘relation’ could be someone more remote. This is of course a very general distinction but you would tend to say: A close relative of the family has just got married/A distant relative of hers has just died and left her a house in the heart of the country.

Alan

6

Thank you, Alan.