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17

Relative clauses: defining and non-defining

Defining relative clauses

We use defining relative clauses to give essential information about someone or something information that
we need in order to understand what or who is being referred to. A defining relative clause usually comes
immediately after the noun it describes.

We usually use a relative pronoun (e.g. who, that, which, whose and whom) to introduce a defining relative
clause (In the examples, the relative clause is in bold, and the person or thing being referred to is underlined .):

Theyre the people who want to buy our house.

Here are some cells which have been affected.

They should give the money to somebody who they think needs the treatment most.

Shes now playing a woman whose son was killed in the First World War.

Spoken English:

In defining relative clauses we often use that instead of who, whom or which. This is very common in informal
speaking:

Theyre the people that want to buy our house.

Here are some cells that have been affected.

No relative pronoun

We often leave out the relative pronoun when it is the object of the verb:

Theyre the people she met at Jons party.

Here are some cells the researcher has identified.

Warning:

In writing, we dont use commas in defining relative clauses:

This is a man who takes his responsibilities seriously.

Not: This is a man, who takes his responsibilities seriously .

Nouns and pronouns in relative clauses

When the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, we dont use another personal pronoun or noun
in the relative clause because the subject (underlined) is the same:

Shes the lady who lent me her phone. (who is the subject of the relative clause, so we dont need the personal
pronoun she)
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Not: Shes the lady who she lent me her phone .

There are now only two schools in the area that actually teach Latin. (that is the subject of the relative clause,
so we dont need the personal pronoun they)

Not: There are now only two schools in the area that they actually teach Latin .

When the relative pronoun is the object of the relative clause, we dont use another personal pronoun or noun
in the relative clause because the object (underlined) is the same:

We had a lovely meal at the place which Phil recommended. (which is the object of the relative clause, so we
dont need the personal pronoun it)

Not: We had a lovely meal at the place which Phil recommended it .

Non-defining relative clauses

We use non-defining relative clauses to give extra information about the person or thing. It is not necessary
information. We dont need it to understand who or what is being referred to.

We always use a relative pronoun (who, which, whose or whom) to introduce a non-defining relative clause (In
the examples, the relative clause is in bold, and the person or thing being referred to is underlined.)

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

Not: Clare, I work with, is doing the London marathon this year .

Doctors use the testing kit for regular screening for lung and stomach cancers, which account for 70% of
cancers treated in the western world.

Alice , who has worked in Brussels and London ever since leaving Edinburgh, will be starting a teaching
course in the autumn.

Warning:

We dont use that to introduce a non-defining relative clause:

Allen, who scored three goals in the first game, was the only player to perform well.

Not: Allen, that scored three goals in the first game, was the only player to perform well .

In writing, we use commas around non-defining relative clauses:

Etheridge, who is English-born with Irish parents, replaces Neil Francis, whose injury forced him to
withdraw last week.

Defining or non-defining relative clauses?

Sometimes defining and non-defining relative clauses can look very similar but have different meanings.
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Compare

non-defining defining

His brother, who works at the His brother who works at the supermarket is a
supermarket, is a friend of mine. friend of mine.
He has only one brother, and that He has more than one brother. The one Im
brother works at the supermarket. talking about works at the supermarket.

Warning:

The information in a defining relative clause is essential, so we cant leave out the relative clause. The
information in a non-defining relative clause is extra information which isnt essential, so we can leave out the
relative clause.

Warning:

We can use that instead of who, whom or which in defining relative clauses, but not in non-defining relative
clauses:

I think anyone who speaks in public is nervous beforehand.

I think anyone that speaks in public is nervous beforehand.

Her car, which was very old, broke down after just five miles.

Not: Her car, that was very old, broke down after just five miles .

Defining relative clauses

Choose the correct answer.
1. A hotel is a place which/where people stay when they're on holiday.
2. What's the name of the woman who/whose lives in that house?
3. What do you call someone which/that writes computer programs?
4. A waiter is a person that/whose job is to serve customers in a restaurant.
5. Overalls are clothes where/which people wear to protect their clothes when they are
working.
6. Is that the shop where/that you bought your new laptop?
7. He's the man who/whose son plays football for Manchester Utd.
8. Hal didn't get the job that/where he applied for.

Add the phrase in brackets to the sentence using 'that' or 'who' and a relative clause:
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1) She worked for a man (the man used to be an athlete)

2) They called a lawyer (the lawyer lived nearby)

3) I sent an email to my brother (my brother lives in Australia)

4) The customer liked the waitress (the waitress was very friendly)

5) We broke the computer (the computer belonged to my father)

6) I dropped a glass (the glass was new)

7) She loves books (the books have happy endings)

8) They live in a city (the city is in the north of England)

9) The man is in the garden (the man is wearing a blue jumper)

10) The girl works in a bank (the girl is from India)

11) My sister has three children (my sister lives in Australia)

12) The waiter was rude (the waiter was wearing a blue shirt)

13) The money is in the kitchen (the money belongs to John)

14) The table got broken (the table was my grandmother's)

15) The television was stolen (the television was bought 20 years ago)

16) The fruit is on the table (the fruit isn't fresh)

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Combine the sentences using relative clauses. Note that all relative clauses are non-defining.

1. Samuel Johnson was the son of a bookseller. Samuel Johnson was born in 1709.
Samuel Johnson _______________________________________________
2. In 1728, he went to Oxford. He studied at Pembroke College in Oxford.
In 1728, he went ________________________________________________
3. Johnson had to leave Oxford without a degree. He was too poor to pay the fees.
Johnson ______________________________________________________
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4. In 1737, Johnson moved to London. There he wrote poetry, essays and biographies.
In 1737, Johnson _______________________________________________
5. In 1746, Johnson started to write his dictionary. It took him nine years to complete.
In 1746, Johnson started _________________________________________
6. His home at that time was in 17 Gough Square in London. It is a museum now.
17 Gough Square in London _____________________________________
7. In this house, his wife died in 1752. Her name was Elizabeth Porter.
In this house his wife
8. In 1755, the work was published. It was called A Dictionary of the English Language.
In 1755, the work _____________________________________________
9. Samuel Johnson died in 1784. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Samuel Johnson ____________________________________________

Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where.

1. Dublin, _________ is the capital of Ireland, is my favourite city.
2. Amelia, ________ mother is from Shanghai, speaks English and Chinese fluently.
3. This smartphone, _________ I bought last week, takes great photos.
4. Buckingham Palace, ________ the Queen of England lives, is in the centre of London.
5. Ferraris, _______ are made in Italy, are very expensive.
6. Russell Crowe, _______ starred in Gladiator, was born in New Zealand.
7. Emily, ________ brother is a singer, is in my English class.
8. Mr Kemp, _______ teaches physics, is going to retire next year.

Relative clauses - defining or non-defining?

Study the situations and then decide whether the following relative clauses are defining or non-defining.

defining no commas non-defining commas

1. I have three brothers.

My brother who lives in Sidney came to see me last month.
My brother, who lives in Sidney, came to see me last month.
2. I have one sister.
My sister who is 25 years old spent her holiday in France.
My sister, who is 25 years old, spent her holiday in France.
3. Bob's mum has lost her keys.
Bob's mum who is a musician has lost her car keys.
Bob's mum, who is a musician, has lost her car keys.
4. My friend Jane moved to Canada.
My friend Jane whose husband is Canadian moved to Canada last week.
My friend Jane, whose husband is Canadian, moved to Canada last week.
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5. I am a shoe fanatic.
The shoes which I bought yesterday are very comfortable.
The shoes, which I bought yesterday, are very comfortable.
6. Mr Robinson is very famous.
Mr Robinson whom I met at the trade fair is a famous inventor.
Mr Robinson, whom I met at the trade fair, is a famous inventor.
7. Tamara has two cats. Both of them are black.
Tamara's two cats which can play outside are black.
Tamara's two cats, which can play outside, are black.
8. Kevin has four cats. Two of them are black.
Kevin's two cats which are black can play outside.
Kevin's two cats, which are black, can play outside.
9. We are on holiday. Yesterday we visited a church.
The church which we visited yesterday is very old.
The church, which we visited yesterday, is very old.
10. We are on holiday. Yesterday we visited a church.
St. Mary's Church which we visited yesterday is very old.
St. Mary's Church, which we visited yesterday, is very old.

Fill in the gaps with who, which, whose, where, or when.

1Sony is building a robot _________ can form an emotional connection with humans.
2Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, _________ died in October at the age of 56, had a rare
form of pancreatic cancer.

3Can you give me back the book _________ I lent you last year?
4Is that the man ___________ house was destroyed by the hurricane?
5Do you remember the summer ________ Jack came home by surprise.
6A love affair quickly developed between Gala and Dal, _________ was about 10 years
younger than her.

7Why dont we book a room at the hotel _________ we stayed last year?
8Is that the boy __________ insulted you?
9William Colgate, __________ name is on toothpaste tubes all around the world, left home
because the family was very poor.

10He took us into his house and gave us food, _________ was really nice of him.