defining and non-defining relative clauses
Hi, in today’s lesson you are going to learn about defining and non-defining relative clauses,
what they are, the differences between them and how to use them. Keep watching until the
end where there will be a short quiz to see how much you have learned.
So, let’s get started.
So, let’s start with what is a clause?
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb which form a sentence or
part of a sentence.
So, an example could be:
"I can't cook very well but I make quite good pancakes"
I can’t cook very well is a clause and I make quite good pancakes is a clause. They
are main or independent clauses, that is they are of equal importance and could each exist
as a separate sentence. But we won’t go into that today.
Each clause has a subject I and a verb, here cook and make.
Whereas a relative clause starts with a relative pronoun: either who, which, that, whose, where,
when, whom and why.
For example:
The man who called you is my dentist.
The relative clause is “who called you”
There are 2 types of relative clause, defining and non-defining.
So, what is a defining relative clause?
Defining relative clauses give us ESSENTIAL information that we need to understand what
or who is being referred to. A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the
noun it describes.
The dentist who treated me is my uncle.
The relative clause tells us which dentist we are talking about. It is essential information.
If we removed the clause, we would not know which dentist we are talking about. and it
comes immediately after the noun it describes, here the dentist.
Whereas relative clauses that give us EXTRA information are called non-defining relative
clauses.
My uncle is a dentist, who plays at the same cricket club as you.
We already know which dentist (it’s my uncle) “who plays at the same cricket club as you,”
does not tell us which dentist we are talking about, it just adds extra information.
So, what are the other differences between defining and non-defining relative clauses?
First up, defining relative clauses are never separated from the rest of the sentence by
commas.
The dentist who treated me is my uncle.
Whereas non-defining relative clauses must be separated from the rest of the sentence
by commas.
My uncle is a dentist, who plays at the same cricket club as you.
Defining relative clauses and non-defining relative clauses may both begin with these
relative pronouns: who (for people),
The woman who lives next door is a doctor. This is essential information, without the
relative clause we would not know which woman we were speaking about, so it’s a defining
relative clause.
Whereas: “My brother Tim, who lives in Scotland, is a doctor.” is a non-defining relative
clause because it is simply adding extra information. Notice the 2 commas when it is in the middle
of a sentence.
Which for things.
Brian works for a company which makes computers. Here is a defining relative clause. It is
essential information otherwise we do not know which company Brian works for.
Whereas: “Brian told me about his new job, which he is not enjoying very much.” is
adding extra information, so is a non-defining relative clause. Notice the comma.
Whose: instead of his, her or their. We usually use whose as a relative pronoun to indicate
possession by people and animals.
So, in a defining clause, we could say: “We met some people whose car had broken down.”
Essential information to know who we met.
Or in a non-defining clause: “Sam, whose car had broken down, was in a bad mood.”
This is simply adding extra information so is a non-defining clause.
Where for places: In a defining clause you could say:
What is the name of the place where you went on holiday? Essential information
Or non-defining: Jane has just been to Oxford, where her dad lives.
When for times:
I remember the day when I met you. Essential information so defining.
And additionally, in defining relative clauses using when the “when” can be omitted.
So: I remember the day I met you.
And
This picture was taken yesterday, when it was raining. Extra information which is non-defining.
Whom: for people as the object of a clause. This is mainly in written English and is increasingly
rare.
For example: “This is George whom you met last year.”
And in a non-defining clause: This morning I met Charles, whom I hadn’t seen for ages.
Some relative pronouns can only be used in defining clauses.
Why can only be used in defining relative clause after the words “the reason”.
So, for example:
The film was the reason why he became famous.
And like when the relative pronoun “why” can be omitted in defining relative clauses.
So you can also say:
The film was the reason he became famous.
And you cannot use why in non-defining relative clauses.
THAT can only be used in defining relative clause to replace WHO, WHOM or WHICH.
So, you could say, "The picture which hangs on the wall." Or also correct is
The picture that hangs on the wall.
Or with who:
The woman who he married.
Or, the woman that he married.
Or
This is George whom you met last year.
Or This is George that you met last year.
Equally correct.
So, you cannot use THAT in non-defining relative clauses.
Next, who, which or that can be omitted when they are the object of the clause.
E.g. The medicine (which/that) the doctor gave me should be taken twice a day. Here
the medicine is the object of the clause. The subject (doing the action) is the doctor,
what did he give, the medicine the object of the clause. so here you can leave out which
or that and just say:
The medicine the doctor gave me should be taken twice a day.
Whereas in non-defining clauses you cannot leave out the relative pronoun.
Both in defining and non-defining relative clauses, the relative pronoun can define the
subject or the object of the verb. So firstly in defining relative clauses, we have:
“The picture which hangs on the wall is old.”
Here the relative pronoun “which” defines the subject of the sentence, the picture
And here:
“The man who she married is Spanish.” who is defining the object of the verb.
In non-defining relative clauses, it is the same.
In this sentence: “The building, which is very old, needs repairing.” which is defining
the subject of the verb.
And in this sentence:
“The boat owner, who we’ve just seen, loves meeting people.” who defines the object
of the verb.
For both defining and non-defining relative clauses, we always omit the object pronoun
(her, him, it, etc) when we make a relative clause.
So, you could say:
“We know little about the woman that he married.”
Not: “We know little about the woman that he married her.”
Or This picture shows Bob’s wife Lucy, who he married in 2019.
Not, “This picture shows Bob’s wife Lucy, who he married her in 2019.”
In both defining and non-defining relative clauses, you usually have the preposition
at the end of the clause.
So, “It’s the one which he is responsible for at work.” in a defining clause and
“Sue, who my mother worked with, has become a teacher.”
In formal English, in both defining and non-defining relative clauses, you sometimes have a preposition
at the beginning of the clause, followed by which (for things) or whom ( for people).
In defining relative clauses:
It’s the one for which he was responsible at work.
In non-defining relative clauses:
Sue, with whom my mother worked, has become a teacher.
“Also, in both defining and non-defining relative clauses, we cannot use THAT after
a preposition in a relative clause.
So you would say:
The room, in which the meeting was held, was too small.
And not
The room, in THAT the meeting was held, was too small.
And finally defining relative clauses are used in writing and speaking
Whereas non-defining relative clauses are more common in writing than in speaking.
So now it’s your turn:
Choose the correct sentence between the two sentences given
Have you ever been back to the town, that you were born in? (notice the comma before
the relative pronoun)
Or
Have you ever been back to the town you were born in? ( no commas)
The second sentence is correct, this is essential information otherwise you would not know which
town you are talking about so it is a defining relative clause and therefore has no commas.
My left ankle which I broke last winter is still giving me trouble.
Notice, in the first sentence there are no commas and in the second there are.
THE correct sentence is the second one with the commas. Here the clause, which I broke
last winter is extra information and not essential to understanding the sentence. Therefore,
it is a non-defining relative clause.
The friend that I want to introduce you to is away this weekend.
Or
The friend that I want to introduce you to her is away this weekend.
Write your answer down below in the comment section. and explain why this is the correct
answer
That’s it for now. I hope you feel more confident using defining and non-defining
relative clauses in English now. Please like this video if you found it useful, share it
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Take care and see you very soon!
defining and non-defining relative clauses