Non-defining Relative Clauses

1 Definition of non-defining relative clauses

What is a “non-defining relative clause”?

A non-defining relative
clause is a relative clause give us extra information about someone or something

For example:
My best friend Tom, who is near my house , has just given me an early birthday

2 Usage of non-defining relative clauses

Non-defining relative clauses is used when the noun before it is a definite noun.

For example
My best friend Tom, who is near my house, has just given me an early birthday
gift

A non-defining relative
clause is not necessary.
The meaning of the sentence does not change without a non-defining relative
clause

For example
My best friend Tom, who is near my house, has just given me an earlybirthday gift

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

For example

My grandfather, who is 87, goes swimmingeveryday

In speaking, we often pause (-) at the beginning and end of the clause

For example
And this woman
– who I’d never met before –
came up and spoke to me.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS IN
NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
 Chỉ Người Chỉ vật Chỉ nơi
chốn

Chủ Ngữ Who Which

Tân Ngữ Who/Whom Which Where

Sở Hữu Whose

* Do not use “that" to replace “who”, “which" or“whom"

* Always use relative pronouns.
E.g: Clare, who I work with, is doing the final test
NOT Clare, I work with, is doing the final test
* Using "which" to refer to another clause
E.g: She's studying to become a doctor,
which is difficult.

* Non-defining clauses can be introduced by expressions like all of, many of, both
of, neither of, many of, some of,... followed by the relative pronoun.
E.g: There were a lot of people at the party, many of whom I had known for years.
3 Exercises about non-defining relative clauses
Q1:The Taj Mahal,______ is recognized as one of the wonders of theworld, was
built by an Indian King in memory of his beloved wife.
A.Which
B.Where
C.That
D.Who
Q.2: Louis Pasteur,____ discovereda cure for rabies, was a Frenchscientist.
A Whose
B Which
C Who
D Whom
Q.3: Mexico City,____ is the capital ofMexico, is a cosmopolitan city.
A That
B Which
C Where
D Who
Q.4: Mr. Dean, ___ had recently beenfired, had a long list ofmisconducts.
A Who
B That
C Whose
D Whom
Q.5: The victims, most of ___ were adults, are being identified by the US
authorities.
A Which
B Whom
C Whose
D Who
Q.6: The driver,___ contract finishes at the end of the season, doesn't want to talk
about his future.
A Who
B Whom
C Whose
D He
Q.7: My mother, _____everyone admires,
is a nice woman.
A Who
B Whom
C Whose
D Which