Defining Relative Clauses VS. Non−defining relative clauses

English Grammar | Defining Relative Clauses VS. Non−defining relative clauses | Non−defining Relative Clauses
They provide interesting additional information which is not essential to understanding the
meaning of the sentence.
Example: Mrs. Jackson, who is very intelligent, lives on the corner.
"Mrs Johnson lives on the corner" provides a good piece of information. We also know that she
is very intelligent, thanks to the relative clause
(another interesting piece of information).
NB: YOU MUST USE COMMAS!
Defining Relative Clauses
− their information is crucial in understanding the meaning of the sentence.
− if you remove them, the sentence has a different meaning or no meaning at all.
Examples:
The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has been arrested.
What woman? The woman who lives in apartment n°34, not another woman.
A defining relative clause clearly defines who or what we are talking about. Without this
information, it would be difficult to know who or what
is meant.
NB: NO COMMAS!
Defining Relative Clauses
Subject:
Example:

• Children who (that) play with fire are in great danger of harm.
• The man who bought all the books by Hemingway has died.
• Which is better? which/who OR that?

who and which: written English
that: oral English
Object:
Example:

• That's the boy (Ø , that, who, whom) I invited to the party.
• There's the house (Ø, that, which) I'd like to buy.

Possessive:
Example:
He's the man whose car was stolen last week.
They were sure to visit the town whose location (OR the location of which) was little known.
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