Defining and non defining relative clauses

1. DEFINING AND NON-
DEFINING
RELATIVE CLAUSES

2. What is a clause?
• It is a group of words containing a subject and a verb which form a
sentence or part of a sentence.
• I can’t cook very well but I make quite good pancakes.
What is a relative clause?
• It starts with the relative pronouns: who, which, that, whose, where,
when, whom and why.
• The man who called you is my dentist.

3. Meaning relative pronouns
• WHO: que, quien
• WHICH: que, el cual
• THAT: que
• WHOSE: cuyo/a
• WHERE: dónde
• WHEN: cuándo
• WHOM: a quién
• WHY: porqué

4. defining
• The dentist who treated me is my uncle.
essential
information
Info that we need to understand what or
who is being referred to
non-
defining
extra
information
• The uncle is a dentist, who plays at the same cricket club as you.

5. • no commas
The dentist who treated me is my uncle
· commas
My uncle is a dentist,
who plays at the same cricket club as you.
defining non-defining

6. • who (for people)
My brother Tim, who lives in Scotland, is a
doctor.
• which (for things)
Brian told me about his new job, which he
is not enjoying very much.
• whose (instead of his/her or their)
Sam, whose car had broken down, was in a
bad modo.
• where (for places)
Jane has just been to Oxford, where her dad
lives.
defining non-defining
May both begin with
• who (for people)
The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
• which (for things)
Brian works for a company which makes
computers.
• whose (instead of his/her or their)
We met some people whose car had broken
down.
• where (for places)
What is the name of the place where you
went on holiday?

7. defining non-defining
• When (for times)
I remember the day when I met you
I remember the day I met you.
• Whom (for people) as the object of
the clause.
This is George whom you met last year.
• When (for times)
This picture was taken yesterday, when
it was raining.
• Whom (for people) as the object of
the clause.
This morning I met Charles, whom I
hadn’t seen for years.

8. defining non-defining
• Why (after the words the reason)
The film was the reason why he became famous.
The film was the reason he became famous.
• That instead of who, whom or which
The picture which hangs on the wall.
that hangs on the wall.
The woman who he married.
that he married.
This is George whom you met last year.
This is George that you met last year.
Some relative pronouns can
only be used in defining
clauses.
Cannot use why
Cannot use that

9. defining non-defining
• Who / which or that can be omitted
When they are the object of the clause
The medicine which/that the doctor
gave me should be taken twice a day.
The medicine the doctor gave me
should be taken twice a day.
• Relative pronoun cannot be omitted
OBJECT SUBJECT

10. defining non-defining
The picture which hangs on the wall is old.
The man who she married is Spanish.
relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb
OBJECT
SUBJECT
The building, which is very old, needs repairing.
The boat’s owner, who we’ve just seen, loves
meeting people.
SUBJECT
OBJECT

11. defining non-defining
We know little about the woman that he
married.
We know little about the woman that he
married her.
Omit the object pronoun (her, him, it, etc) in a relative clause
This picture shows Bob’s wife Lucy, who he
married in 2019.
The picture shows Bob’s wife Lucy, who he
married her in 2019..
not not

12. defining non-defining
It’s the one which he has responsable for
at work.
Usually have the prepositions at the end of the clause
Sue, whom my mother worked with,
has become a teacher.

13. defining non-defining
It’s the one for which he has
responsable at work.
In formal English, sometimes we put the preposition at the beginning
of the clause, followed by which (for thing) or whom (for people)
Sue, with whom my mother worked,
has become a teacher.

14. defining non-defining
The room, in which the meeting was held, was too small.
Not
The room, in that the meeting was held, was too small
We cannot use that after a preposition in a relative clause

15. defining non-defining
Writing
Writing and speaking

16. • Have you ever been back to the town, that you were born in?
• Have you ever been back to the town that you were born in?
• My left ankle which I broke last winter is still giving me trouble.
• My left ankle, which I broke last winter, is still giving me trouble.
• The friend that I want to introduce you to is away this weekend.
• The friend that I want to introduce you to her is away this weekend