A defining relative clause defines or give essential

information about a noun.

The Myeong-dong area has dozens of shops that sell the
latest fashion.
A non-defining relative clause gives optional
information about a noun and cannot begin with
the pronoun that. Notice the use of commas.

The restaurants here stay open until midnight,

when many locals are still enjoying dinner.
Defining relative clauses:
 The spring and fall are the seasons when most people
come to visit.
 In US we can find the world famous New York that is
the most populous city in the United States.
 People who live in cities have more stress than
people who live in small towns.
Non-defining relative clauses:
 Cairo, which fascinated Europeans for ages, draws
European tourists each year.
 Our tour guide, who knew a gret deal about
souvenirs from the area, helped us to buy some.
 Complete with: that, who, when or
Exercise: where.
 Pamplona is the city in Spain __________ the bulls run
through the streets during a summer festival.
 Amy likes to stay in hotels _________there are lots of
theaters and restaurants nearby.
 Many office workers like to have lunch in a park ________
they can sit in the sun and enjoy the nature ________is
all around them.
 People _______ lives in towns _________ there are no
movie theaters often rent movies.
 Complete with: who, which or where.
Exercise:
 New Yorkers, ______ often go to museums, seldom
visit Times Square.
 Moscow,_____ has artistic stations, is the largest city in
Russia.
 Nagano, ______1998 Winter Olympics were held, is in
the mountains of Japan.
 Sydney,______ also has a well known bridge, is famous
for its Opera House.