Defining vs Non-Defining Relative Clause EXPLANATION

Differences between Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

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​Explanation and Examples UCAR 2022

Defining relative clauses

• They’re the people who want to buy our house.

• This is the best resource that I have ever read!

• This is a man who takes his responsibilities seriously.​

• A library is a place which people go and borrow books from.​

• She’s the lady who lent me her phone.

• I dislike people who eat popcorn during the movie.

• Emre is​ the man who is fond of learning new things.

Non-Defining relative clauses

• The science fair, which lasted all day, ended with an awards ceremony.

• The sculpture, which he admired, was moved into the basement of the museum to make room for a new exhibit.​

• ​Izmir, which is the 3rd biggest city of Turkey, is my hometown.

• Tarkan, who is a famous pop star in Turkey, is my relative.

• Clare, who I work with, is sometimes too bossy and moody.

• Çorum, which is famous for 'leblebi', is located in central Anatolia.

• English File, which is our main course book, is awesome.​

​Defining vs Non-Defining Clauses: Difference in Meaning

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There is a difference in meaning between defining and non-defining clauses that depends on the presence or absence of the comma. For example:​

They have two sons who are doctors.

Defining clause; the meaning is that there are more sons in the family, e.g.:

They have two sons who are doctors and one who is an architect.

Compare:

They have two sons, who are doctors.

Non-defining clause; the meaning is that there are no more sons in the family.

Relative clauses are divided into 2 categories:

defining and non-defining.

Non-defining relative clauses present “extra” information that could be omitted. Commas can beused around non-defining relative clauses.

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​Defining Relative Clause Example:

- The man who I can trust is my dad.

- The house that Jack built is large.​

(Hint: Do not use 'comma' after or before "that")​

Non-Defining Relative Clause Example: The man, who was killed, was only 26 years old.​

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​People who play the piano are often good at typing.

​Hint: In defining relative clauses, you cannot omit information from the sentence without changing theintended meaning. Commas cannot be used around defining relative clauses.

​Hint: All of the information in this sentence is needed to communicate the full meaning. The relative clause "who play the piano" cannot be omitted; therefore, no commas are used in this example.

​The students who finished their homework left the classroom.

​Hint: Only "the students who finished their homework" left the classroom.

_{The information who finished their homework defines which students left the classroom.}

​Defining Relative Clause :

​Hint: The students, who finished their homework, left the classroom.

The use of commas indicates that who finished their homework is extra information. If it is omitted, the sentence reads "The students left the classroom."

The commas tell us that all the students left the classroom.