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Non-restrictive clause
A non-restrictive clause is a type of relative clause that adds non-essential information to a
sentence. This means that the central meaning of the sentence would not change if the non-
restrictive clause were omitted. Commas set the non-restrictive clause apart from the rest of
the sentence.
Example:
Diamonds, which sparkle, are expensive.
In the example above, the non-restrictive clause (which sparkle) adds additional information
about diamonds (that they sparkle) but does not affect the essential meaning of the sentence:
diamonds are expensive.
Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns (Who, whom, that, which, and whose) indicate the beginning of a relative
clause. When referring to something non-human, the appropriate relative pronouns are that
or which. When referring to a human, the appropriate relative pronounce are typically who or
whom. However, that can also be used to refer to humans in restrictive clauses. The
possessive relative pronoun is whose when referring to either humans or non-humans.
Note: The relative pronoun must always be used to introduce a relative clause, except when
the relative pronoun is the object of a restrictive clause. In these cases, the relative pronoun
can be either included or omitted from the relative clause.
Example:
The spaghetti that I ate for dinner was overcooked.
Vs.
The spaghetti I ate for dinner was overcooked.
Both of the example sentences above contain the same relative clause. The only difference is
that in the second sentence, the relative pronoun (that) is omitted.
The next sections will cover guidelines for understanding how to correctly use different relative
pronouns within relative clauses.
That vs. which:
That
The relative pronoun that is used to signal a restrictive clause. That can be used to refer to
humans or non-humans within a relative clause.
Example:
Adam took his car that had a bad transmission to the mechanic.