Relative Clauses – Defining and Non-defining

Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun or noun phrase and are connected to it using relative pronouns. Examples of relative pronouns:

1. “Who” for people
   Sentence: “She is the doctor who treated my grandfather.”
   Explanation: “Who” introduces the person (the doctor) responsible for a specific action (treating my grandfather).
2. “Which” for things
   Sentence: “The laptop, which is on the table, needs repairs.”
   Explanation: “Which” highlights a specific attribute (being on the table) of the laptop, providing additional detail.
3. “That” for both people or things
   Sentence: “He is the person that I mentioned in my speech.”
   Explanation: “That” connects to the person referred to earlier (I mentioned in my speech), applicable to both people and things.
4. “Where” for places
   Sentence: “The park where we had our picnic was beautiful.”
   Explanation: “Where” denotes the specific place (the park) where an event (picnic) occurred.
5. “When” for times
   Sentence: “The day when we met changed my life.”
   Explanation: “When” specifies the particular time (the day) when a significant event (meeting) took place.
6. “Whose” for showing something belongs to someone
   Sentence: “The author, whose novel I admire, will be speaking tonight.”
   Explanation: “Whose” signifies possession (novel I admire) by the author, indicating ownership or association.
7. “Why” for giving reasons
   Sentence: “The reason why she left remains a mystery.”
   Explanation: “Why” introduces the cause or explanation (she left) behind a certain situation, providing the reason for an action or event.

2. Defining Relative Clauses:

• Defining relative clauses provide essential information to identify the noun more clearly.
• The relative pronoun can be the subject or object of the clause.
• The relative pronoun can be omitted when it refers back to the object of the clause.
• Example: “Find someone who can collect your mail.”

3. Non-defining Relative Clauses:

• Non-defining relative clauses provide extra, non-essential information about something.
• They are separated from the main clause by commas.
• The relative pronoun cannot be omitted and cannot be replaced with “that.”
• Example: “Mr Smith, who was my primary school teacher, got married last week.”

These guidelines help to use relative clauses effectively and accurately in different contexts, providing additional information and enhancing the structure of the text.