Relative clauses – Defining and Non-defining & Omission of the relative pronoun

Relative Pronouns 

Relative Use Example

pronoun

who subject or object pronoun for people I told you about the
woman who lives next door.

which subject or object pronoun for animals and Do you see the cat which is
things lying on the roof?

which referring to a whole sentence He couldn’t read, which

surprised me.

whose possession for people animals and things Do you know the boy whose
mother is a nurse?

whom object pronoun for people, especially in non- I was invited by the
defining relative clauses (in defining relative professor whom I met at the
clauses we colloquially prefer who) conference.

that subject or object pronoun for people, animals I don’t like the table that
and things in defining relative clauses stands in the kitchen.
(who or which are also possible)

where object pronoun for places I know a restaurant where the

food is excellent.

when object pronoun for times There isn’t a day when I don’t

feel rushed off my feet.
Subject Pronoun or Object Pronoun? 
If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun.
Subject pronouns must always be used.

the apple which is lying on the table

If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb (but by a noun or pronoun), the relative
pronoun is an object pronoun. Object pronouns can be omitted in defining relative
clauses.

the apple (which) George lay on the table

Defining Relative Clauses 

Defining relative clauses (also called identifying relative clauses or restrictive relative
clauses) give detailed information defining a general term or expression. Defining relative
clauses are not put in commas.
Imagine, Tom is in a room with five girls. One girl is talking to Tom and you ask somebody
whether he knows this girl. Here the relative clause defines which of the five girls you mean.

Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?

Defining relative clauses are often used in definitions.

A seaman is someone who works on a ship.

Object pronouns in defining relative clauses can be omitted.

The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is very nice.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses 

Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-identifying relative clauses or non-restrictive

relative clauses) give additional information on something, but do not define it. Non-defining
relative clauses are put in commas.

Imagine, Tom is in a room with only one girl. The two are talking to each other and you ask
somebody whether he knows this girl. Here the relative clause is non-defining because in this
situation it is obvious which girl you mean.

Do you know the girl, who is talking to Tom?

!!! In non-defining relative clauses, who/which may not be replaced with that.

!!! The relative pronoun in non-defining relative clauses cannot be omitted.

Jim, who/whom we met yesterday, is very nice.

 Exercise 1: Decide whether the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun or an object
pronoun.

1. Do you know the girl who I danced with? - 

2. Do you know the girl who danced with me? - 

3. The apples that are lying on the table are bad. - 

4. The apples that we bought in the shop are bad. - 

5. We will stay at a hotel which is not far from the beach. - 

6. We will stay at a hotel which my friend has recommended to us. 

7. That is a museum which I like very much. - 

8. That is a museum which lies in the heart of the town. 

9. This is the man who Barbara visited in Scotland. 

10. This is the man who lives in Scotland. 

Exercise 2: Decide whether the relative pronouns must be used or not.

1. A calendar is something which tells you the date.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
2. Strikers are soccer players who try to score goals for their team.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
3. Jane is a person who everybody likes.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
4. A stamp is something which you put on a letter if you want to send it.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
5. The Thames is a river which runs through London.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
6. Cheese is food which mice like eating.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
7. A racket is something which you use to hit a ball when you play tennis or badminton.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
8. Socks are things which you wear on your feet.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
9. A guide is a person who shows tourists around around a place.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
10. Love is a feeling which nobody can describe.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary

Exercise 3: Fill in the gaps with who, which, whose, where, or when.

1. Sony is building a robot   can form an 'emotional connection' with humans.

2. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs,   died in October at the age of 56, had a rare
form of pancreatic cancer.
3. Can you give me back the book   I lent you last year?
4. Is that the man   house was destroyed by the hurricane?
5. Do you remember the summer   Jack came home by surprise.
6. A love affair quickly developed between Gala and Dalí,   was about 10 years
younger than her.
7. Why don't we book a room at the hotel   we stayed last year?
8. Is that the boy   insulted you?
9. William Colgate,   name is on toothpaste tubes all around the world, left
home because the family was very poor.
10. He took us into his house and gave us food,   was really nice of him.
Exercise 4: Combine the following sentences using relative clauses. If the relative
pronoun is omittable, put it in parentheses.
1. They elected a new mayor. His aim is to help the poor.
____________________________________________________________________.
2. I really like the car. I bought it last year.
____________________________________________________________________.

3. Mr Black took over the company. His wife died last year.
____________________________________________________________________.
4. The restaurant is the best in town. We usually eat there.
____________________________________________________________________.
5. The man was arrested yesterday. He escaped from prison a week ago.
____________________________________________________________________.
6. The bag is heavy. You want to carry it.
____________________________________________________________________.
7. The Marybelle Hotel is opening up again. I stayed there a few years ago.
____________________________________________________________________.
8. My friend's father gave us the tickets. He owns a travel agency.
____________________________________________________________________.
9. Mr Honeywell is a good teacher. Everyone likes him.
____________________________________________________________________.
10. That's the producer. His films are always a great success.
____________________________________________________________________.

Adapted by S.Ç.B. June 2021, from: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses

Adapted by S.Ç.B. June 2021, from: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses/exercises?
05
Adapted by S.Ç.B. June 2021, from: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses/exercises?
10
Adapted by S.Ç.B. Jume 2021, from: https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/defining-and-non-defining-
relative-clauses/3/
Adapted by S.Ç.B. Jume 2021, from: https://www.english-practice.at/b1/grammar/relative-clauses/rc005-
relative-clauses.pdf
Answer Key 5. When
Exercise 1 6. Who
7. Where
1. Object pronoun
8. Who
2. Subject pronoun
9. Whose
3. Subject pronoun
10. Which
4. Object pronoun
5. Subject pronoun
6. Object pronoun
7. Object pronoun
8. Subject pronoun,
Exercise 4
9. Object pronoun
1. They elected a new mayor whose
10. Subject pronoun
aim is to help the poor.
2. I really like the car (that/which) I
Exercise 2
bought last year.
1. Necessary
3. Mr Black, whose wife died last
2. Necessary
year, took over the company.
3. Not necessary
4. The restaurant where we usually eat
4. Not necessary
is the best in town.
5. Necessary
5. The man who/that escaped from
6. Not necessary
prison a week ago was arrested
7. Not necessary
yesterday.
8. Not necessary
6. The bag (which/that) you want to
9. Necessary
carry is heavy.
10. Not necessary
7. The Marybelle Hotel, where I
stayed a few years ago, is opening
Exercise 3 up again.
1. Which 8. My friend's father, who owns a
2. Who travel agency, gave us the tickets.
3. Which 9. Mr Honeywell, who everyone likes,
4. Whose is a good teacher.
10. That's the producer whose films are
always a great success.