NON-DEFINING RELATIVE

CLAUSES
WHO
WHICH
WHOSE
 REFERRING TO REFERRING TO ANIMALS
PEOPLE OR THINGS

SUBJECT WHO WHICH

DIRECT OBJECT WHO/ WHOM WHICH

POSSESSION WHOSE WHOSE/OF

WHICH
 NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES:

•THEY PROVIDE EXTRA OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

OF THE THING OR PERSON WE SPEAK ABOUT.
•THEY ARE CONTAINED BETWEEN COMMAS , OR A
COMMA AND A FULL STOP.
•“THAT” IS NEVER USED.
•THEY ARE ALWAYS EXPRESSED AND NEVER OMITTED.
NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES VERSUS DEFINING
RELATIVE CLAUSES:

•THE SMITHS, WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR, HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

•THE SMITHS HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

IF THE RELATIVE CLAUSE CAN BE OMITTED BECAUSE THE ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION IS NOT ESSENTIAL, IT IS A NON-DEFINIG RELATIVE CLAUSE.
THE SUBJECT IS VERY SPECIFIC.

•THE PEOPLE,WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR, HAVE THREE CHILDREN

•THE PEOPLE HAVE THREE CHILDREN. ( WHO? WHICH PEOPLE HAVE THREE
CHILDREN.)

IF THE RELATIVE CLAUSE CAN NOT BE OMITTED BECAUSE THE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS ESSENTIAL, IT IS A DEFINIG RELATIVE
 EXAMPLES

•PETER, WHO LIVES NEXT TO ME, IS A GOOD MAN.

•YESTERDAY,I MET PETER, WHO USED TO WORK IN THE

OFFICE.

•KING CHARLES THE GREAT, WHOSE STATUE IS MADE

OF GOLD, WAS A VERY GOOD LEADER.
 WHO OR WHOM / OR BOTH

•PETER, WHO LIVES NEXT TO ME, IS A GOOD MAN.

( SUBJECT)

•THAT’S MY GRANNY, WHO/WHOM YOU MET LAST

YEAR, LIVES IN SPAIN NOW.
( DIRECT OBJECT)