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Relative Clauses

Defining Clauses

A defining clause adds essential information to a sentence, it follows the noun/noun phrase it is defining.

This is where I was born. (No other place)

Use relative pronouns (like who, which, that, etc) to start the defining clause.

Use THAT / WHICH for objects.

This is the book which/that you lent me.

Use WHO / THAT for people.

He is the man who/that shouted at me.

Use WHERE for places.

This is the bar where I met your mother.

Use WHOSE for possession.

That is the family whose house I love.

WHOM is used rarely in modern or informal English. It can be used for WHO as an object pronoun.

To whom are you refering?
More Modern / More Informal = Who are you refering to?

WHO, THAT, WHICH can be left out if the clause is the object of the sentence.

This is not possible with non-defining clauses.

He's the teacher (who/that) I told you about.

Who / That can be left out.

He's the teacher who hit me.

Who is the subject of the verb 'hit me' so cannot be left out.

Non-Defining Clauses

A non-defining clause adds extra information to a sentence, it also follows the noun / noun phrase it refers to.

Rome, which is the capital of Italy, is a great city.

If you are unsure if the clause is defining or non-defining, it can be tested by removing the clause. If the sentence still makes sense and conveys the main point, then it is a non-defining clause.

Rome is a great city.

The sentence makes sense.

The place where I was born is great!

If I remove the clause 'where I was born'..=> "The place is great.".
This is ok grammatically, but what place are you describing? I don't know.
The sentence no longer makes sense without the defining clause.

Non-defining clauses are extra information, so it is important to let the reader/listener know this.

When writing we use commas:

The film, which was in cinemas last year, is now available on Netflix.

When speaking we lower our voice:

"HER HUSBAND JEFF, who is a bus driver, IS REALLY NICE."

NOTE how this is important with sentences such as these:

My cousin who is American is very tall.

I have more than one cousin, I am talking about the American one.

My cousin, who is American, is very tall.

I have just one cousin, she is tall and happens to be American too.

Use WHO for people.

The man, who I had never seen before, gave me 10 dollars!

Use WHICH (NOT that) for objects.

The car, which I had bought the year before, broke down.

Use WHERE for places.

This fantastic stadium, where the first match was played, is about to be knocked down.

Use WHOSE for possession.

The dog, whose owner lives there, attacked my cat.

WHO, WHICH, WHERE, WHOSE can not be left out.

My dad, who lives in Florida, is called Rocky.

NOT My dad, lives in Florida, is called Rocky

General Info

There is no need to repeat subject and object pronouns.

Marvin, who lives nearby, is a fantastic player.

NOT Marvin, who he lives nearby, is a fantastic player.

The big book that was on the shelf has been stolen.

NOT The big book that it was on the shelf has been stolen.

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Relative Clauses

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