defining and non defining relative clauses
TRANSCRIPT
Defining and Non- defining Relative Clauses
2014
Introduction
Relative clauses add extra information to a sentence by defining
a noun or to define or identify the person or thing we are talking
about. Obviously, this is only necessary if there is more than one
person or thing involved.
They are usually divided into two types:
Defining Relative Clauses.
Non-defining Relative Clauses.
Both of them can be introduced by relative Pronouns: Who, That,
Where, Which or Whose.
The Relative Pronouns
The Relative Pronouns link the main clause
with the relative clause.
In the defining relative clauses we use:
WHO / THAT for people.THAT for things.WHERE for places.WHOSE for possessions.
The Relative Pronouns
On the other hand in the non-defining
relative clauses we use:
WHO for people.WHICH for things.WHERE for places.WHOSE for possessions.
The Relative Pronouns
It's important to mention that if the relative pronoun is the object
of the verb in the relative clause, we have to leave it out:
Have you sold the car that you drove ?
It's better to say:
Have you sold the car you drove?
The Relative Pronouns When the pronoun is the subject of the
main clause and also the object of the relative clause, we don't have to repeat it:
The woman is a doctor. I met her.
Can be turn into:
The woman who I met her is a doctor.
But it's better to say:
The woman who I met is a doctor
The Defining Relative Clauses
In this kind of clause, the information isessential to make sense of the main clause.
For example:
I like the woman who lives next door.
(If I don't say 'who lives next door',
then we don't know which woman I mean).
The Non-Defining Relative Clauses
In this kind of clause, the information isnot essential, that means the main clause makes sense without it.
For example:
I live in Arica, which has some fantastic valleys.
(Everybody in this class knows Arica, so 'which has some fantastic valleys' is extra information).
The non-defining relative clauses
In this kind of clauses, the relative clause is separated by commas from the main clause:
Examples:
My best friend, who is very nice, lives in Manchester.
Last week I bought a new computer, which I don' t like now.
The non-defining relative clauses
We also cannot leave out relative pronouns in this kind of clauses:
Examples:
I really love the new Chinese restaurant, which we went to last night.
It can't be:I really love the new Chinese restaurant, we went to
last night.
Let's Practice!
Are these relative clauses defining or non-defining?
1. London, which is the capital of England, is one of the largest cities in the world.
2. This is the dress my mother has made for me.
3. Queen Elizabeth II, who is 83, has been the queen of England for 57 years now.
4. That's the dog that bit me.
5. Tom Cruise, who has starred a lot of films, is a famous American actor.
6. The village where I grew up is very small.
6. Greg, whose job involves travelling a lot, has been in nearly all the countries in the world.
7. The office I have just rented is near my home.
8. This is the officer that arrested the burglar.
9.Lady Gaga, who is a well-known pop star, is only 24.
Are these relative clauses defining or non-defining?
1. London, which is the capital of England, is one of the largest cities in the world. NON-DEFINING
2. This is the dress my mother has made for me. DEFINING
3. Queen Elizabeth II, who is 83, has been the queen of England for 57 years now. NON-DEFINING
4. That's the dog that bit me. DEFINING
5. Tom Cruise, who has starred a lot of films, is a famous American actor.
NON-DEFINING
6. The village where I grew up is very small. DEFINING
7. Greg, whose job involves travelling a lot, has been in nearly all the countries in the world. NON-DEFINING
7. The office I have just rented is near my home. DEFINING
8. This is the officer that arrested the burglar. DEFINING
9.Lady Gaga, who is a well-known pop star, is only 24. NON-DEFINING
Choose the right relative pronoun to complete these sentences.
1. Jim, __________ I've known for years, is my best friend.
2. My new coat, __________ I bought in New York, is very warm and comfortable.
3. My boss, ___________ wife is French, travels to Paris regularly.
4. He didn't even say "thank you", __________ I found really rude.
5. Next summer I'm going to India, _________ I've never been before.
6. My sister, ___________ is five years younger than me, is a lawyer.
7. Galileo Galilei, ___________ suppported the heliocentric theory, was arrested by the Inquisition.
Choose the right relative pronoun to complete these sentences.
1. Jim, WHO I've known for years, is my best friend.
2. My new coat, WHICH I bought in New York, is very warm and comfortable.
3. My boss, WHOSE wife is French, travels to Paris regularly.
4. He didn't even say "thank you", WHICH I found really rude.
5. Next summer I'm going to India, WHERE I've never been before.
6. My sister, WHO is five years younger than me, is a lawyer.
7. Galileo Galilei, WHO suppported the heliocentric theory, was arrested by the Inquisition.
Join these sentences using relative pronouns beginning with the words given. Omit the pronoun if possible. add commas if necessary.
1. My school is very big. It is in Madrid.
2. Robert Pattinson is an actor. He plays Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga.
3. Robert Pattinson is a British actor. He plays Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga.
4. I bought this cake yesterday. It tastes delicious.
5. Michael is a policeman. His father is a judge.
6. I bought a computer last month. It doesn't work properly.
7. Prince Charles will be the king of England one day. His mother is Queen Elizabeth.
8. I was given a dog. It is very friendly.
9. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written by Mark Twain. I enjoyed it a lot.
10. Mrs Kelly is the woman. She took me to hospital when I fainted at school.
Join these sentences using relative pronouns beginning with the words given. Omit the pronoun if possible. add commas if necessary.
1. My school, which is in Mdrid, is very big.
2. Robert Pattinson is the actor, who plays Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga.
3. Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, is a British actor.
4. The cake that I bought yesterday tastes delicious.
5. Michael, whose father is a judge, is a policeman.
6. The computer I bought yesterday doesn't work properly.
7. Prince Charles, whose mother is Queen Elizabeth, will be the king of England one day.
8.The dog I was given is very friendly.
9. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which I enjoy a lot, was written by Mark Twain.
10. Mrs Kelly is the woman who took me to the hospital when I fainted at school.
Material created and selected by
Danitza Lazcano FloresTeacher of English
Master in Education and
Educational counselor