A relative construction forms an NP which can, in principle, be freely determined. An important case is that kind of non-specific indefinite determination which leaves the choice of a referent falling under the concept entirely open. The construction then says that the choice does not matter for the main clause predication. A relative clause with this determination is called indifferent (or “generalizing” or “free choice”) relative clause.

The core of a restrictive relative clause may be marked by indefinite determination; this is compatible with any determination of the higher nominal. If the higher nominal does not bear a determination of its own, the default is that it inherits the determination of the core. Such an indefinite higher NP is shown in .

The indifferent determination is a subtype of the indefinite non-specific determination. If it accompanies the core – no matter whether coded in form of an internal head or as a light head, as in the examples –, this determination again percolates to the higher NP. Apart from the difference in emphasis on the free choice, the indifferent is synonymous with .

Sometimes the indifferent pronoun combines with a generic subordinate clause, as in . The subjunctive appearing the dependent clause not atypical, either.

and show a variant with a lexical head, which in English as in several other languages is incorporated in the relative clause so that this takes the form of an internal head relative clause. shows a headless indifferent relative clause.

Since the choice of a referent does not matter with an indifferent relative clause, a frequent variant of the construction is one in which the term formed by the relative clause does not even play a role in the main clause. This is illustrated in and .

The concept of a choice that does not matter is the same encountered in the analysis of disjunctive junction. Such constructions are also semantically akin to concessive conditionals.