Is the 出し in the following sentence a relative clause?

Question

Is the 出し -which I believe to be 出す- in the following text a relative clause, as the 行動 is a noun?

「ここにじっとしていてもしょうがない………か」

自分を奮い立たせるために、わざと自分の考えを声に出し行動を始めた。

Answer 1

No. 出し is a 連用形, which means it never modifies a noun as a relative clause. 連用形 literally roughly means "continue-verb-form". That 出し modifies nothing. Just because a verb comes before a noun doesn't mean it's a relative clause.

Compare the following two sentences.

1. グラウンドを走り先生を呼んだ。
   I ran across the ground and called my teacher.

2. グラウンドを走る先生を呼んだ。
   I called my teacher who was running across the ground.

走り is a 連用形, so it does not form a relative clause. This 走り is interchangeable with 走って. On the other hand, 走る is a 連体形 (≒dictionary form), so it forms a relative clause that modifies 先生. Please review the basic grammar of relative clauses.

• Do I have a good grasp on the basics of what the continuative form is?

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Perhaps you need some exercise. Only two of the following six sentences contain a relative clause. Can you tell which?

1. 彼はイチゴを食べ鳥を捕まえた。
2. 彼はイチゴを食べて鳥を捕まえた。
3. 彼はイチゴを食べる鳥を捕まえた。
4. 彼女は山に登るシカを見た。
5. 彼女は山に登りシカを見た。
6. 彼女は山に登ってシカを見た。