Defining vs Non-defining Relative Clauses

Defining Relative Clauses

• Relative clauses modify nouns or pronouns.
• They provide additional information about the noun or pronoun they modify.
• They begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverbs (where, when, why).
• Defining relative clauses are essential to the meaning of the sentence. If removed, the sentence's meaning changes significantly or becomes unclear.
• They are essential because they limit or define the noun they modify; they separate the thing being referred to from other similar things.
• Commas are not used around defining relative clauses.

Non-defining Relative Clauses

• Non-defining relative clauses provide extra, but non-essential, information about the noun or pronoun they modify.
• The information in the clause is extra detail that doesn't change the core meaning of the sentence if removed.
• Commas are used to set off non-defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence.
• Removing a non-defining relative clause typically results in a sentence that still makes sense, albeit with less detail.

Relative Pronouns

• Who: used for people.
  • Example: The man who won the race is my brother.
• Whom: used for people as objects of a verb or preposition.
  • Example: The teacher whom we admired retired last year.
• Whose: used for possession.
  • Example: The dog whose owner is missing ran away.
• Which: used for things.
  • Example: The car which was damaged is now being repaired.
• That: used for both people and things.
  • Example: The woman that I met at the party was very nice.

Relative Adverbs

• Where: refers to place.
  • Example: The house where I grew up is now a museum.
• When: refers to time.
  • Example: The time when they arrived was too late.
• Why: refers to reason.
  • Example: This is the reason why I was late.

Usage and Placement

• Relative clauses come immediately after the noun or pronoun they modify.
• The position of the relative pronoun (who, whom, etc) depends on its function within the relative clause (subject, object, or possessive).

Distinguishing Between Defining and Non-Defining Clauses

• Defining: These clauses are essential for identification. They specify which noun or pronoun is being referred to. Omitting them would alter the meaning of the sentence.
• Non-defining: These clauses provide extra information. Omitting them doesn't change the core meaning of the sentence, merely removing detail.

Common Errors

• Incorrect use of "who" and "whom". Knowing the function of the pronoun within the clause is crucial.
• Confusing defining and non-defining clauses. Incorrect punctuation can lead to clarity issues.
• Omitting the relative pronoun "that" when it is required in defining clauses. Overly formal writing may also be prone to erroneous use of relative pronouns, such as "whom" in an inappropriate context.

Test your understanding of relative clauses with this quiz. Learn about the differences between defining and non-defining relative clauses and how they impact sentence meaning. Discover how to correctly use them in writing.