Identifying and Non-

Identifying Clauses
 Relative clauses that are needed in a sentence in order to
understand who we are referring to. (Without Commas)
Examples:
 The house that/which I grew up in was demolished last week.
If we remove the relative clause, would we still
Identifying understand what we were referring to?
Clauses The house was demolished last week. (Which house?)
 I met a man who was selling his car.
I met a man. (What man?)
Without the identifying clauses, our sentences would change—or
the meaning would change.
 Relative clauses that are needed in a sentence in order to
understand who we are referring to. (Without Commas)
Examples:
The book is mine. (Which book?)

Identifying
Clauses
 Relative clauses that are needed in a sentence in order to
understand who we are referring to. (Without Commas)
Examples:
The book is mine. (Which book?)

Identifying
Clauses

The book that/which is on the left is mine.

The relative clause helps us understand what we are
talking about.
Remember: Which and that are interchangeable in identifying clauses.
 Add extra information to the sentence. It’s not necessary in a
sentence and can be removed without changing the meaning on the
sentence. (With commas)
Examples:
 Maria, who is a student at CEC, was absent today.
 If we remove the relative clause, would we still know
Non- who we are talking about?
Identifying  Maria was absent today.
Clauses The meaning of the sentence is the same. We don’t need
to know she is a student at CEC to understand who she is.
 My black car, which is in the garage, is broken.
 My black car is broken.
The meaning of the sentence in the same. We don’t need
to know that the car is in the garage in order to understand
which car we are referring to.
Remember: That CAN’T be used in non-identifying clauses.
 Add extra information to the sentence. It’s not necessary in a
sentence and can be removed without changing the meaning on the
sentence. (With commas)
Examples:
Non- Maria, who is a student at CEC, was absent today.
Identifying  If we remove the relative clause, would we still know
Clauses who we are talking about?
Maria was absent today.
The meaning of the sentence is the same. We don’t need
to know she is a student at CEC to understand who she is.
 Add extra information to the sentence. It’s not necessary in a
sentence and can be removed without changing the meaning on the
sentence. (With commas)
Examples:
Non- Maria, who is a student at CEC, was absent today.
Identifying  If we remove the relative clause, would we still know
Clauses who we are talking about?
Maria was absent today.
The meaning of the sentence is the same. We don’t need
to know she is a student at CEC to understand who she is.
 Sometimes context changes whether a clause is identifying or non-
identifying.
For example:
My brother, who is living in Mexico, is coming to visit me.

Context Without context, this relative clause would be non-identifying.

I have two brothers. One of my brothers lives here in Quito, but my
brother who is living in Mexico is coming to visit me.
The context changed. I now have two brothers, and by saying
“who is living in Mexico” we are identify which of my two brothers is
visiting.
 1. I gave the book to my brother who is an engineer.

2. England which is where Dave grew up has some of the best

universities.

Practice 3. The amusement park that is in Salem is going to close down

next week.

4. The book which is on the table is about wars around the world.
 1. I gave the book to my brother, who is an engineer.
Non-identifying: When it ends a sentence, you only need
one comma before the relative pronoun.
1. England which is where Dave grew up has some of the best
universities.

Practice
2. The amusement park that is in Salem is going to close down
next week.

3. The book which is on the table is about wars around the world.
 1. I gave the book to my brother, who is an engineer.
Non-identifying: When it ends a sentence, you only need
one comma before the relative pronoun.
1. England, which is where Dave grew up, has some of the best
universities.

Practice Non-Identifying: We have a specific name

1. The amusement park that is in Salem is going to close down
next week.

2. The book which is on the table is about wars around the world.
 1. I gave the book to my brother, who is an engineer.
Non-identifying: When it ends a sentence, you only need
one comma before the relative pronoun.
1. England, which is where Dave grew up, has some of the best
universities.

Practice Non-Identifying: We have a specific name

1. The amusement park that is in Salem is going to close down
next week.
Identifying: Tells us which amusement park
1. The book which is on the table is about wars around the world.
 1. I gave the book to my brother, who is an engineer.
Non-identifying: When it ends a sentence, you only need
one comma before the relative pronoun.
1. England, which is where Dave grew up, has some of the best
universities.

Practice Non-Identifying: We have a specific name

1. The amusement park that is in Salem is going to close down
next week.
Identifying: Tells us which amusement park
1. The book which is on the table is about wars around the world.
Identifying: Tells us which book
 Identifying Non-Identifying
 Needed information  Extra information
 The sentence changes when the relative clause  Can be taken out of the sentence without
is removed OR changing the meaning
 It becomes unclear who/what we are referring  Can use “which”
to.
 Can use “which” or “that”

WHICH and THAT are interchangeable in identifying clauses.

Only WHICH can be used in non-identifying clauses.