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Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Defining relative clauses provide essential information to understand the sentence, while non-defining clauses provide extra information. Defining clauses do not use commas, while non-defining clauses are set off by commas. Who/which can be replaced by that in defining clauses but not in non-defining clauses. Relative pronouns like who, which, that serve as subjects or objects in clauses. When they serve as objects, the pronoun can sometimes be omitted.

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240 views9 pages

Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Defining relative clauses provide essential information to understand the sentence, while non-defining clauses provide extra information. Defining clauses do not use commas, while non-defining clauses are set off by commas. Who/which can be replaced by that in defining clauses but not in non-defining clauses. Relative pronouns like who, which, that serve as subjects or objects in clauses. When they serve as objects, the pronoun can sometimes be omitted.

Uploaded by

Domingo de Leon
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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RELATIVE CLAUSES

DEFINING AND NON-DEFINING


RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative clauses: definition

A relative clause is the part of a sentence beginning


with a relative pronoun (who/which/that/whom/whose)* or an
adverb (when/where).
*In certain cases, this pronoun can be omitted.

MY BROTHER WHO IS 34 IS A TEACHER

Where is the relative


clause in this
sentence?
There are two types:
Can you notice any differences in the meaning?

The boys in my class who wear glasses are attractive.

The boys in my class, who wear glasses, are attractive.


Relative clauses: Defining (especificativas)

 The boys in my class who wear glasses are attractive.


•These relative clauses give you the information you need to understand the sentence.

•There are no commas.

•If you take the relative clause away, the sentence doesn’t make sense.

•In this kind of sentences, WHO/WHICH can be replaced by THAT.

These ones are called Defining Relative Clauses.


Relative clauses: Non-defining (explicativas)
 The boys in my class, who wear glasses , are attractive.

•These relative clauses give extra information.

•They are always written between commas.

•If you leave out the relative clause between commas, it still makes sense.

•In this kind of sentences, WHO/WHICH can’t be replaced by THAT.

These ones are called Non-defining Relative Clauses.


Basic relative particles:
WHO
• FOR PEOPLE
• She is the person who helped me.

WHICH
• FOR THINGS/OBJECTS
• This is the book which I bought last week.

WHERE
• FOR PLACES
• Madrid is the city, where I have lived for 39 years.
Basic relative particles:
THAT
• FOR PEOPLE/THINGS (in defining clauses)
• Pete is the boythat…/ This is the car that…

WHEN
• FOR TIME
• I met him the day when it was my birthday.

WHOSE
• POSSESSION
• My pupils, whose homework is never done, will fail the exam.
WHO/WHICH/THAT/WHEN
can be omitted when they
Subject or object? work as object in Defining
Relative Clauses.

Antecedent Relative Clause

The woman who was talking to David suffered from heart problems

Subject Verb
Antecedent Relative Clause

The woman who I was talking to suffered from heart problems

Object Subject Verb

When the relative


pronoun is the object, The woman I was talking to suffered from heart problems.
it can be left out.
Now, it’s your turn…
 The hotel where we stayed was very good for the price.
 The books, which I had ordered over the internet, took
nearly three weeks to arrive.
 My parents, who were born in north Wales, moved to
London to find work.
 The employee to whom you refer is no longer working here.
 My neighbour, whose son is studying in Germany, is quite
impolite.
 This is the area where they are building the new school.
 That’s the time when he left university.
 Those are the friends who they went to the theatre with.
 The people who/that I stayed with were very kind.
 She gave me the key, which I put in my pocket.
“Whom” is used after prepositions.

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