Royal American School English Department Viviana C

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Royal American SchoolEnglish DepartmentViviana
Césped Pardo

• Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

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Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• Use relative clauses to provide extra
  information. This information can either define
  something (defining clause), or provide
  unnecessary, but interesting, added information
  (non-defining clause).

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Relative clauses can be introduced by

• a relative pronoun who (whom), which, that,
  whose
• no relative pronoun
• where, why and when instead of a relative pronoun

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• You need to consider the following when deciding
  which relative pronoun to use

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• Is the subject or object or possessive of a
  relative clause?
• Does it refers to a person or an object?
• Is the relative clause a defining or non-defining
  relative clause?

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• NOTE Relative clauses are often used in both
  spoken and written English. There is a tendency
  to use non-defining relative clauses mostly in
  written, rather than in spoken, English.

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• Deciding Whether A Clause Is Defining Or
  Non-Defining

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Defining Relative Clauses

• The information provided in a defining relative
  clause is crucial in understanding the meaning of
  the sentence.
• Example The woman who lives in apartment No. 34
  has been arrested.The document that I need has
  'important' written at the top.

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• The purpose of a defining relative clause is to
  clearly define who or what we are talking about.
  Without this information, it would be difficult
  to know who or what is meant.
• Example The house is being renovated.
• In this case it is not necessarily clear which
  house is being renovated.

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Non-defining Relative Clauses

• Non-defining relative clauses provide interesting
  additional information which is not essential to
  understanding the meaning of the sentence.
• Example Mrs. Jackson, who is very intelligent,
  lives on the corner.

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• Correct punctuation is essential in non-defining
  relative clauses. If the non-defining relative
  clause occurs in the middle of a sentence, a
  comma is put before the relative pronoun and at
  the end of the clause. If the non-defining
  relative clause occurs at the end of a sentence,
  a comma is put before the relative pronoun.

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• NOTE In defining relative clauses there are no
  commas.

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Relative Pronouns Used As The Subject of Defining
Relative Clauses

• Example Children who (that) play with fire are
  in great danger of harm.The man who bought all
  the books by Hemingway has died.
• Generally, who and which are more usual in
  written English whereas that is more usual in
  speech when referring to things.

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Relative Pronouns Used As The Object of Defining
Relative Clauses

• Example That's the boy (ø , that, who, whom) I
  invited to the party.There's the house (ø, that,
  which) I'd like to buy.

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Relative Pronouns Used As A Possessive In A
Defining Relative Clauses

• Example He's the man whose car was stolen last
  week.They were sure to visit the town whose
  location (OR the location of which) was little
  known.
• NOTE It is preferable to use that (not which)
  after the following words all, any(thing), every
  (thing), few, little, many, much, no(thing),
  none, some(thing), and after superlatives. When
  using the pronoun to refer to the object, that
  can be omitted.

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• Example It was everything (that) he had ever
  wanted.There were only a few (that) really
  interested him.

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Relative Pronouns Used As The Subject of
Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• Example Frank Zappa, who was one of the most
  creative artists in rock 'n roll, came from
  California.Olympia, whose name is taken from the
  Greek, is the capitol of Washington State.

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Relative Pronouns Used As The Object of
Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• Example Frank invited Janet, who (whom) he had
  met in Japan, to the party.Peter brought his
  favorite antique book, which he had found at a
  flee market, to show his friends.
• NOTE That can never be used in non-defining
  clauses.

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Relative Pronouns Used As A Possessive In
Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• Example The singer, whose most recent recording
  has had much success, signing autographs.The
  artist, whose name he could not remember, was one
  of the best he had ever seen.

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NOTES

• In non-defining relative clauses, which can be
  used to refer to an entire clause.
• Example He came for the weekend wearing only
  some shorts and a t-shirt, which was a stupid
  thing to do.
• After numbers and words like many, most, neither,
  and some, we use of before whom and which in
  non-defining relative clauses. Example Many of
  those people, most of whom enjoyed their
  experience, spent at least a year abroad. Dozens
  of people had been invited, most of whom I knew.

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The Use Of Where, Why And When -Relative Clauses
and Preposition Use

• Where, referring to a place, why, referring to a
  reason, and when, referring to a time, can be
  used instead of a relative pronoun after a noun.
• In defining relative clauses why and when, unlike
  where can be omitted.
• Example I'd like to know the reason (why) he
  decided not to come.February is the month (when)
  many of my colleagues take skiing holidays.

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• BUT! She always had wanted to go to a place where
  she could speak her native tongue.
• When, where and why are not omitted in
  non-defining relative clauses.
• Example I come from the Seattle area, where many
  successful companies such as Microsoft and Boeing
  are located, and I often go home during the
  summer.He likes shopping between one and three,
  when most people are at home, because of the
  relative calm

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NOTES

• When speaking, we often omit the relative
  pronoun.
• Whom is formal and most often used when writing.

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Relative clauses and prepositions

• In formal English prepositions can come before
  the relative pronoun. However, it much more
  common to place prepositions at the end of the
  relative clause, especially in informal spoken
  English.
• Example John Robbins, whom I spoke to by
  telephone, instructed me to buy 200 shares of
  WAKO. FormalThe Ritz, which was stayed at in New
  York, was extremely expensive.

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Defining Relative Clauses

• Example The banker to whom I gave my check was
  quite friendly. - formalThe woman I talked to
  was very pleasant indeed. - informalThe book
  which I received for my birthday was excellent. -
  formalThe car he drove was really fast. -
  informal

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Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• Example The bank manager, to whom he addressed
  his complaints, was very unhelpful. - formal.The
  local branch manager, who I talked to about my
  problems, was very helpful. - informal

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