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Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

This document discusses defining and non-defining relative clauses. Defining relative clauses provide essential information to identify the person or thing being referred to, and do not use commas. Non-defining relative clauses add extra unnecessary information between commas. Key differences are that "that" can be used in defining clauses but not non-defining, and the relative pronoun can be omitted after subject+verb in defining clauses. Common mistakes to avoid are using two subjects or "that" in non-defining clauses.

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Nemar Rezidential
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605 views

Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

This document discusses defining and non-defining relative clauses. Defining relative clauses provide essential information to identify the person or thing being referred to, and do not use commas. Non-defining relative clauses add extra unnecessary information between commas. Key differences are that "that" can be used in defining clauses but not non-defining, and the relative pronoun can be omitted after subject+verb in defining clauses. Common mistakes to avoid are using two subjects or "that" in non-defining clauses.

Uploaded by

Nemar Rezidential
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Defining vs non-defining

Defining relative clauses


Defining relative clauses carry essential information because they identify
which thing or person we are talking about, and they are used without commas.

o This is the music which was used at the show. 


o Have they found the prisoner who escaped last week?

We can use that
In defining relative clauses we can use that instead of which or who.

o This is the music that was used at the show. 


o Have they found the prisoner that escaped last week?

When can we omit who/which/that?


Who/which/that, can be omitted if they are followed by subject + verb

o Can you pass me the box (which/that) I keep in the top drawer?


o You are not the man (who/that) I thought you were. 

Non-defining relative clauses


Non-defining relative clauses are used between commas, and they add extra
information which is not necessary to know who or what we are talking about.

o This music, which I really like, was used at the show.


o My sister, who I truly admire, is coming for Thanksgiving. 

We cannot use thatthat, and we cannot omit who/which


In non-defining relative clauses (between commas) we cannot use that that, and
we cannot omit who/which.

 This music,that I really like, was used at the show.


 My sister,  I truly admire, is coming for Thanksgiving. 

This music, that I really like, was used at the My sister, I truly admire, is coming
for Thanksgiving. 

This music, that I really like, was used at tMy sister, I truly admire, is
coming for Thanksgiving.  Defining vs non-defining
relative clauses
In a defining relative clause the information is essential to identify who or what we
are talking about, whereas in non-defining relative clauses, we just add extra
information, which is not necessary. Compare:

o My brother who (that)lives in Cardiff is much older than me. (=I have


more than one brother and the relative clause helps identify which brother I
am talking about)
o My brother, who (that)lives in Cardiff, is much older than me. (=I have
only one brother, so we don’t need the relative clause to know who I am
talking about)

Relative pronouns and adverbs


Here you can see a grammar chart with the relative pronouns and adverbs that we
normally use in relative clauses.
 

Common mistakes
Two subjects
When who, which or that is the subject of a relative clause, we don’t use another
pronoun or noun after it, because we can only have one subject
(who, which or that).

o I saw a man who was very tall. (NOT: I saw a man who he was very tall I


saw a man who he was very tall.)
o That is the painting that was stolen from the gallery. (NOT: That is the
painting that it was stolen from the gallery That is the painting that it was
stolen from the gallery.)
That between commas
We cannot use the relative pronoun that in a non-defining relative clause
(between commas)

o The victim, who suffered a concussion, said he didn’t remember the


accident. (NOT, The victim, THAT suffered a concussion, said he didn’t
remember the accident The victim, that suffered a concussion, said he
didn’t remember the accident.)

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