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Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

The document discusses defining and non-defining relative clauses. It provides examples of defining and non-defining clauses, explains the relative pronouns used in each, and discusses omitting relative pronouns and using reduced relative clauses. Key points covered include the use of commas to distinguish defining vs non-defining clauses and restrictions around omitting certain relative pronouns.

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Arancha G.Villamil
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149 views8 pages

Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

The document discusses defining and non-defining relative clauses. It provides examples of defining and non-defining clauses, explains the relative pronouns used in each, and discusses omitting relative pronouns and using reduced relative clauses. Key points covered include the use of commas to distinguish defining vs non-defining clauses and restrictions around omitting certain relative pronouns.

Uploaded by

Arancha G.Villamil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DEFINING & NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

*COMPARE:

● Hisbrother, who works at the supermarket, is a friend


of mine. NON-DEFINING CLAUSE

He has only one brother and that brother works at the


supermarket.

● His brother who works at the supermarket is a friend


of mine. DEFINING CLAUSE
He has more than one brother. The one I’m talking
about works at the supermarket.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS

People: who / that

Things: which / that

Places: where

Dates: when

Possessive: whose
DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
• Essential information about someone or something- they can’t be removed.
• NO commas
• Relative pronouns: who(m), which, that, whose, where, when. (*whom can be
used when object of clause)
who/that
1. That is the woman ……………………………..lent me the pen (person)

whom/who/that
2. They are the people …………………………..she met at Jon’s party (person)

OMITTING THE RELATIVE PRONOUN

When the pronoun is the object of a defining relative clause (#2):

Where’s the pencil (which) I gave you yesterday?

*YOU CANNOT OMIT THE RELATIVE PRONOUN IF:


It is the subject of a defining relative clause (#1):

The girl who was next to me wouldn’t stop talking


NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
• Extra information about the person or thing. It is NOT necessary
information.
• Commas are used
• Relative pronouns: who, whom, which, whose, where, when
NEVER “THAT”

Allen, who scored three goals in the first game, was the only player to perform well.

Allen, that scored three goals in the first game, was the only player to perform well.

I grew up in my mother´s house, which is quite small.

*YOU CANNOT OMIT THE RELATIVE PRONOUN*


PREPOSITIONS IN RELATIVE CLAUSES
 If a relative clause includes a preposltion, we can often choose to put it at the
beginning or the end of the clause. When we put it at the beginning, we use which
(not that) or whom (not who)

1. This is the church that we got married in.


This is the church in which we got married.

2. The people who I spoke to were really helpful.


The people to whom I spoke were really helpful.

 The prepositions in phrasal verbs stay at the end of the verb

My aunt, who/whom I have always looked up to, is a brain surgeon.

 In non-defining relative clauses, we can use of which and of whom after numbers,
quantifiers (some, many, a few…) or superlatives.

I have 3 brothers, two of whom are lawyers.


She´s been in lots of films, many of which you´ve seen.
There are 3 Hemsworth brothers, the most famous of whom is Chris.
REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES
Formed by omitting the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb that forms the verb tense.

 A present participle (-ing) replaces an active tense.

1. A lot of people (who were) sitting at the table were my relatives.


2. A car which belonged to the police was stolen.
A car belonging to the pólice was stolen.
3. The new bus, (which was) shining in the sun, drove off to its next stop.

 A past participle replaces a passive tense.

1. The buildings (which were) constructed in the seventies are ugly.


2. The castle, (which was) built in 1300, is still standing.
Combine the sentences into one sentence using either a defining or non-defining
relative clause. Do not omit the pronoun.

1. The armchair is an antique. My grandfather sits in it.

The armchair in which my grandfather sits is an antique. OR The armchair that/which


my grandfather sits in is antique.

2. The student came late. I borrowed their pen yesterday.

The student whose pen I borrowed yesterday came late.

3. I was introduced to the members of the team. The tallest was the captain.

I was introduced to the members of the team, the tallest of whom was the captain.

4. This is the hospital. I was born there.

This is the hospital where I was born.

5. Saint Patrick´s Cathedral is beautiful. It´s in New York.

Saint Patrick´s Cathedral, which is beautiful, is in New York OR Saint Patrick´s


Cathedral, which is in New York, is beautiful
6. The lift is being repaired. It broke down yesterday.

The lift, which broke down yesterday, is being repaired. OR The lift, which is being
repaired, broke down yesterday.

7. I asked a woman for information. It was very helpful.

I asked a woman for information, which was very helpful.

8. She owes her life to him. The person is a paramedic.

The person to whom she owes her life is a paramedic. OR The person that/who/whom
she owes her life to is a paramedic.

9. We went to Central Park. They filmed many movies there.

We went to Cental Park, where they filmed many movies/where many movies were
filmed by them.

10. I met a man. He set up the company with my father. The company was founded in
1980.

I met a man who/that set up the company, which was founded in 1980, with my father.

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