DEFINING AND NON-DEFINING
RELATIVE CLAUSES
RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative clauses: definition
A relative clause is the part of a sentence beginning
with a relative pronoun (who/which/that/whom/whose)* or an
adverb (when/where).
*In certain cases, this pronoun can be omitted.
MY BROTHER
WHO IS 34 IS A TEACHER
Where is the relative
clause in this
sentence?
There are two types:
Can you notice any differences in the meaning?
The boys in my class who wear glasses are attractive.
The boys in my class, who wear glasses, are attractive.
Relative clauses: Defining (especificativas)
The boys in my class are attractive.
•These relative clauses give you the information you need to understand the sentence.
•There are no commas.
•If you take the relative clause away, the sentence doesn’t make sense.
•In this kind of sentences, WHO/WHICH can be replaced by THAT.
who wear glasses
These ones are called Defining Relative Clauses.
Relative clauses: Non-defining (explicativas)
The boys in my class, , are attractive.
•These relative clauses give extra information.
•They are always written between commas.
•If you leave out the relative clause between commas, it still makes sense.
•In this kind of sentences, WHO/WHICH can’t be replaced by THAT.
who wear glasses
These ones are called Non-defining Relative Clauses.
Basic relative particles:
WHO
• FOR PEOPLE
• She is the person who helped me.
WHICH
• FOR THINGS/OBJECTS
• This is the book which I bought last week.
WHERE
• FOR PLACES
• Madrid is the city, where I have lived for 39 years.
Basic relative particles:
WHEN
• FOR TIME
• I met him the day when it was my birthday.
WHOSE
• POSSESSION
• My pupils, whose homework is never done, will fail the exam.
THAT
• FOR PEOPLE/THINGS (in defining clauses)
• Pete is the boythat…/ This is the car that…
Subject or object?
The woman who was talking to David suffered from heart problems
Relative Clause
Antecedent
Subject Verb
The woman who I was talking to suffered from heart problems
Relative Clause
Antecedent
Object
Verb
Subject
When the relative
pronoun is the object,
it can be left out.
The woman I was talking to suffered from heart problems.
WHO/WHICH/THAT/WHEN
can be omitted when they
work as object in Defining
Relative Clauses.
Now, it’s your turn…
The hotel we stayed was very good for the price.
The books, I had ordered over the internet, took
nearly three weeks to arrive.
My parents, were born in north Wales, moved to
London to find work.
The employee to you refer is no longer working here.
My neighbour, son is studying in Germany, is quite
impolite.
This is the area they are building the new school.
That’s the time he left university.
Those are the friends they went to the theatre with.
The people I stayed with were very kind.
She gave me the key, I put in my pocket.
where
who
which
whom
whose
where
when
who
who/that
which
“Whom” is used after prepositions.
