Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses

Exercises

Explanation

There are two types of relative clauses:

• Defining relative clauses

• Non-defining relative clauses

1. Defining Relative Clauses

A defining clause gives important information. Without it, the sentence does not make full sense. We do not use commas.

Pronouns used

• For people: who / that

• For things: which / that

Examples

• The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
  (= We need the clause to know which woman.)

• I lost the book that you gave me.

• The café which opened last month is already popular.

2. Non-defining Relative Clauses

A non-defining clause adds extra information. You can remove it, and the basic meaning stays the same. We use commas before and after the clause.

Pronouns used

• For people: who

• For things: which

• We do NOT use “that” in non-defining clauses.

Examples

• My sister, who works in Spain, is visiting next week.
  (= The main information: my sister is visiting.)

• Our house, which was built in 1920, has a small garden.

• The concert, which I really enjoyed, finished late.

3. Relative Pronouns – Quick Guide

Examples with “whose”

• The girl whose phone was stolen went to the office.

• The company whose products we use is very reliable.

4. Relative Clauses as Subject or Object

A. Relative pronoun as the subject

• The student who won the prize is from Brazil.

• The dog that sleeps in the yard belongs to my neighbour.

B. Relative pronoun as the object

You can omit the pronoun in defining clauses.

• The teacher (who/that) I spoke to was very helpful.

• The shoes (which/that) she bought are too small.

But you cannot omit pronouns in non-defining clauses.

5. Prepositions in Relative Clauses

In defining clauses, the preposition usually goes at the end:

• The café (which/that) we went to was cheap.

• This is the topic (which/that) they are talking about.

In non-defining clauses, it stays inside the clause:

• The museum, which I told you about, is closed today.