This document discusses the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses. Defining relative clauses provide essential information about a noun, while non-defining clauses provide extra, non-essential information. Defining clauses are more informal and integrate the relative clause into the sentence structure without commas. Non-defining clauses are more formal and set off from the rest of the sentence with commas. Examples are provided to illustrate the differences.

1. Defining/Non-defining
relative clauses
What is the difference between defining
relative clauses and non-defining relative
clauses?

2. Defining relative clauses
 What is the name of the tall man who/that just
came in? (that is informal)
 The people that/who/whom I invited live next door
(that/who is normal; whom is informal)
 People who take physical exercise live longer
 Who owns the car which is parked outside?
 Have you got something which/that will get ink out
of a carpet?

3. Non-defining relative clauses
 This is Ms Roger, who is joining the firm
next week.
 In 1908 Ford developed his Model T car,
which sold for $500

4. Defining relative clauses features
 Have you got something which/that will get ink out of a
carpet/(that) I can get ink out of a carpet with? (defining)
 are more informal
 follow immediately after the noun that they modify
 not separated by pauses or intonation in speech and commas in writing
 without the clause, sentence is incomplete, makes no sense or has a different
meaning
 that is used
 subject pronouns cannot easily be left but object pronouns can
 give essential information about something or someone in a main clause

5. Non-defining relative clauses features
 In 1908 Ford developed his Model T car, which sold
for $500 (non-defining)
 are more formal
 not always follow immediately after the noun that they modify
 are separated by pauses or intonation in speech and commas in
writing
 without the clause, sentence is complete and makes sense, doesn't
change meaning
 that is never used
 can easily be left without changing the meaning
 give extra information about something or someone in a main clause

6. Compare and identify
 The woman who does my hair has moved to another
hairdresser’s. (Which woman?)
Defining
 Dorothy, who does my hair, has moved to another
hairdresser’s.
Non-defining
 She married a man that she met on a bus (Which man?)
Defining
 She married a very nice architect from Belfast, whom she
met on a bus
Non-defining

7. Examples
1.The majority of schools are comprehensive, which means that they take
children in a given area without selection.
(non-defining).
2.The University where/at which I study is rated number 1 among
Russian top universities/on the list of Russian top universities.
(defining)
3. The secondary school, which is organised in a variety of ways,
embraces
children aged 11-18
(non-defining)
4. Grammar school is an institution to which /where children are
selected/allowed on the basis of their Eleven Plus exams (Britain)
(defining)

8. Examples
5.“Streams” is a system when pupils are grouped according to ability so that
there are separate classes for the less able and the more able.
(defining)
6. SAT, which higher schools grads take in America, is designed to test (for
testing) students’ aptitude rather than their knowledge.
(non-defining)
7. To be accepted by/admitted to a university applicants are required to pass
three A-levels, which demands considerable effort.
(non-defining)
8.The teachers who follow the Montessori Method encourage children to learn
by self-teaching/encourage independence in children.
(defining)

9. Active Vocabulary
1.To enroll in/enrol on an advanced course a studentmay first
have to take a required/obligatory/compulsory preliminary
course known as prerequisite.
2. The next morning we surveyed the damage caused by the
fire.
3. How many subjects are you taking this year?
4. She failed to gain admission to the university of her choice.
5.Faculty at the college get free parking and free membership
to the sports facilities.

10. Rate your Professor Vocabulary
 epitome -a perfect example of sth
 be intimidated –be frightened
 hard core –having a belief or a way of
behaving that will not change
 get lippy –not showing respect in the way
that you speak to someone
 belittle –make someone seem small or
unimportant