In the sentence "We should congratulate the student who won the prize," what is the role of the clause "who won the prize"?

The clause "who won the prize" serves a critical role in identifying which student is being referred to. This type of clause is known as a restrictive clause, and it provides necessary information that restricts or specifies which student is meant. Without this clause, the sentence would not clearly indicate which student should be congratulated; it would leave the reader wondering among all possible students.

In this context, the clause directly links the action of congratulating to a specific student based on the achievement mentioned, making it essential for the comprehension of the sentence. Thus, the correct understanding of the role of the clause highlights its function in clarifying the subject of the sentence.