Defining and non-defining relative clauses

Use relative clauses to provide extra information. This information can either define
something (defining clause), or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information (non-
defining clause).

Defining relative clauses:

The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has been arrested.

1. provide information which is necessary for the reader to understand the sentence
2. NO commas
3. we can use THAT here

Non-defining relative clauses:

Mr Brown, who is a doctor, is a very nice person.

1. provide extra information; if you leave it the sentence still makes sense
2. commas
3. we never use THAT here

Relative Pronouns in Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Person Object
Subject who which
Object who, whom which
Possessive whose whose, of which

Examples:

 Frank Zappa, who was one of the most creative artists in rock 'n roll, came from
California.
 Olympia, whose name is taken from the Greek, is the capitol of Washington State.
 Frank invited Janet, who (whom) he had met in Japan, to the party.
 Peter brought his favorite antique book, which he had found at a flee market, to show
his friends.
 The singer, whose most recent recording has had much success, is signing autographs.
 The artist, whose name he could not remember, was one of the best he had ever seen.

! After numbers and words like many, most, neither, and some, we use of before whom and
which in non-defining relative clauses.

Example: Many of those people, most of whom enjoyed their experience, spent at least a year
abroad. Dozens of people had been invited, most of whom I knew.

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Exercise 1

Decide whether the following clauses are defining or non-defining clauses. Insert commas
where necessary.

1. The car which was a rare sports coupe was built in 1966.
2. We invited the boy who Tom had met the week before to the party.
3. Our friends who we met at university are coming to visit next week.
4. That is the building where they shot the film 'Vanilla Sky'.
5. Mr Jackson whose son also goes to this school will be attending the party next
weekend.
6. The author's latest book which has become a bestseller is about two children in
Jamaica.

Exercise 2

Work together to expand the following story by using as many non-defining relative clauses
as you can. Feel free to make a funny story!

A man called Peter took an airplane to New York to visit his sister. When he arrived at the
airport, a old man asked him a question. Peter gave a short reply and the man invited him for a
drink. Peter accepted, and after he had the drink, caught the airplane to New York. When he
got to his sister's apartment, his sister invited him into the living room. As he entered the
room, he was surprised to see the same man.

3. Translate into English:

1. Mapa, którą ona znalazła, jest stara. ……………………………………………………

2. dziewczyna, która ma niebieską spódnicę, mieszka na wsi.
…………………………………………….
3. Restauracja, w której (gdzie) się spotkaliśmy, jest elegancka.
4. My nowy samochód, który jest teraz w garażu, kosztował mnie fortunę.
…………………………………………………………………………
5. Książka, którą kupiłam tam, jest interesująca.
………………………………………………………………………..
6. Patrz, to jest ten facet, którego spotkaliśmy wczoraj!
……………………………………………………………….
7. Warszawa, gdzie ona mieszka, jest stolicą Polski.
……………………………………………………
8. Gdzie jest list, który dałeś mi w piątek?
…………………………………………………………………

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W których zdaniach zaimki można ominąć

4. Uzupełnij zdania używając which, who lub where.

1. Aviemore is a place in the Scottish Highlands ................ peple ski.

2. Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish writer ............... wrote Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
3. Gaelic is a language ..................... is only spoken by a few people.
4. The golden eagle is a rare bird ................. lives in the Scottish Highlands.
5. Harris is the name of the island .................. they make Harris tweed.

5. Uzupełnij zdania zaimkami who, where, which, that – o ile to konieczne.

1. Australia is the continent, ……………. you can meet rare animals.

2. Mr. Dracko, …………………… taught me French, has lived in England since the second
world war.
3. The keys, …………………….. I lost yesterday, were my father’s.
4. Barcelona, ……………….. the latest Olimpic Games were held, is the capital of Catalunya.
5. Bart lives in Paris, ……………….. is the capital of France.
6. Evelin is the girl, ……………………… my brother is going to marry.
7. The chapter, ………………………… I have just read, is very boring.
8. Pat, …………………. studied with my son, has six daughters.
9. Mario, ………………. comes from Brazil, is our new neighbour.
10. The book, ……………………. you gave me yesterday, is very interesting.

6. Utwórz zdania wykorzystując podane wyrażenia:

e.g. Ella / lives next door / dances in ballet.
Ella, who lives next door, dances in a ballet.

1. Max / I met last summer / is going to visit me.

……………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Lublin / my father was born / one of the biggest cities in Poland.
………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. The album / is lying on that shelf / is my sister’s.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. Thomas Edison / invented the bulb / was English.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. The glasses / are in my bag / aren’t mine.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. Denver / we spent last weekend / famous for white cliffs.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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