Defining and non-defining relative clauses

Defining and non-defining relative clauses

By Eva Verdugo

Poll

Do you know what a 'relative clause' is?

• No idea...

• I think I do

• Yes, of course!

Multiple Choice

Let's see...

What is a relative clause?

• A sentence that talks about relatives

• A sentence that adds information to what we want to say

• A clause that adds extra information about the thigs we are talking about

Take a look at these sentences

• My teacher, whose mom is a lawyer, is blond.​

  ​

• ​This is the teacher who I love!

Take a look at these sentences

• My teacher, whose mom is a lawyer, is blond.​ --> Non-defining relative clause

  ​

• ​This is the teacher who I love! --> Defining relative clause

Defining relative clauses

What are they?

They are relative clauses that give information about​ the thing we are talking about

• They add CRUCIAL information!

• They DON'T go between commas​

Defining relative clauses

The information they add is needed to understand the sentence.​

• ​They're the people who are going to buy our house.

• They're the people who are going to buy our house​ --> doesn't make sense!

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a DEFINING relative clause?

• His brother, who works at the supermarket, is a friend of mine.

• It’s hoped that we will raise £10,000 for local charities, which help the homeless.

• The soldier who had gold stripes on his uniform seemed to be the most important one.

Non-defining relative clauses

What are they?

They are relative clauses that give EXTRA information.

• They go between commas

• We can leave out the information and the sentence will still make sense​

Non-defining relative clauses

Let's take a look at these examples​

• ​Clare, who I work with, is doing the London marathon this year.

• Clare, who I work with, is doing the London marathon this year. --> Still makes sense!​

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a non-defining relative clause?

• My mom, who I love, is going on holiday.

• My mom is going on holiday.

• Your mom is going on holiday without you.

• The mom whose hair is blond is going on holiday.

Now, what are relative pronouns?

They introduce relative clauses

The most common are:

who, whom, whose, which, that

How do we know which one to use? --> it depends on what we are referring to.​

Remember them!​

​

Take a look at these

Fill in the Blank

What relative pronoun fits better?

'My mom, ______ eyes are blue, is going on holiday'

Fill in the Blank

What relative pronoun fits better?

' This is the place _______ I was born.'

Fill in the Blank

What relative pronoun fits better?

'Do you know the reason _____ she doesn't come to class?

Multiple Choice

Let's recap....

Defining relative clauses give...

• crucial information.

• extra information.

Multiple Choice

Non-defining relative clauses....

• don't go between commas.

• go between commas.

Open Ended

Combine these sentences to create a non-defining relative clause

"Martina loves me. Martina has blue eyes."

Open Ended

Combine these sentences to create a defining relative clause:

"The soldier has died. The soldier has brown boots."

Open Ended

Use the information in brackets to add a non-defining clause to each sentence.

"Next month I'm going to Madrid with Laura. (Her father is Spanish.)"