Non-defining Relative Clauses: 1
Non-defining Relative Clauses.
Definition
Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-restrictive relative clauses) provide additional information about a noun in a sentence, but this information is not essential to the sentence's main meaning. These clauses are set off by commas and can be removed without altering the fundamental meaning of the sentence.
Structure
**Main Clause + , + Relative Pronoun + Non-defining Relative Clause + , + Rest of the Main Clause**
Key Characteristics
1. **Use of Commas:**
Non-defining relative clauses are always separated by commas.
Example: "My brother, who lives in New York, is a doctor."
2. **Relative Pronouns:**
Common relative pronouns used: who, whom, whose, which.
**Who/Whom**: Refers to people.
Example: "Mrs. Johnson, who is my neighbor, is very kind."
**Whose**: Shows possession for people, animals, or things.
Example: "The artist, whose paintings are famous worldwide, lives nearby."
**Which**: Refers to animals and things.
- Example: "The car, which I bought last year, is already broken."
3. **Cannot Use 'That':**
'That' is not used in non-defining relative clauses.
Incorrect: "My car, that is very old, is still running."
Correct: "My car, which is very old, is still running."
4. **Adds Extra Information:**
Provides additional, non-essential information.
The sentence still makes sense if the clause is removed.
Example: "Paris, which is the capital of France, is very beautiful."
5. **Cannot Be Used with Indefinite Pronouns:**
- Non-defining relative clauses cannot be used with indefinite pronouns like "somebody," "something," "anybody," etc.
Incorrect: "Somebody, who I met yesterday, called me."
Examples
**People:**
"My teacher, who has been teaching for 20 years, is retiring."
**Possession:**
- "The writer, whose books have won many awards, will give a talk tonight."
**Things:**
"The laptop, which I bought last month, is already malfunctioning."
Usage Tips
1. **Clarifying vs. Adding Information:**
Use non-defining relative clauses to add extra details that aren’t crucial for identifying the noun.
Example: "My friend, who is a chef, cooked dinner for us."
2. **Placement of Commas:**
Ensure commas are placed correctly to separate the non-defining clause.
Example: "The river, which flows through the town, is polluted."
3. **Relative Pronoun Choice:**
Choose the correct relative pronoun based on the noun being described (who/whom for people, whose for possession, which for things).
Common Mistakes
1. **Using 'That' in Non-defining Clauses:**
Incorrect: "The house, that I like, is for sale."
Correct: "The house, which I like, is for sale."
2. **Omitting Commas:**
Incorrect: "My sister who lives in Canada is visiting."
Correct: "My sister, who lives in Canada, is visiting."
3. **Using Non-defining Clauses with Essential Information:**
Incorrect: "Students who study hard get good grades." (This is a defining relative clause, not non-defining)
Correct: "John, who studies hard, gets good grades."
Practice
Identify non-defining relative clauses in sentences and ensure proper comma usage.
Create sentences using non-defining relative clauses to describe people, places, and things.
By understanding these aspects, you can effectively use non-defining relative clauses to add rich, detailed information to your sentences without altering their core meanings.
Study the Example
Here are 30 examples of sentences with non-defining relative clauses:
1. **My brother, who lives in New York, is a doctor.**
2. **Paris, which is the capital of France, is known for its art and culture.**
3. **My car, which I bought last year, is already having problems.**
4. **Mrs. Thompson, who teaches English, is an excellent educator.**
5. **The Great Wall of China, which was built over 2,000 years ago, is a remarkable structure.**
6. **Sarah, whose brother is a famous actor, has always been very private.**
7. **The Eiffel Tower, which attracts millions of tourists every year, is a global icon.**
8. **My laptop, which I use for work, suddenly stopped working yesterday.**
9. **Our dog, who loves to play fetch, is very energetic.**
10. **Rome, which was once the center of the Roman Empire, is full of historical sites.**
11. **My aunt, who lives in California, is coming to visit us next month.**
12. **The new library, which was built last year, has a vast collection of books.**
13. **Her necklace, which was a gift from her grandmother, is very precious to her.**
14. **The book, which I finished reading last night, was really captivating.**
15. **John's house, which is located by the sea, offers stunning views.**
16. **The painting, which was sold for a record price, is a masterpiece of modern art.**
17. **Emily, who just graduated from college, is looking for a job.**
18. **The concert, which was held in the open air, attracted a large crowd.**
19. **My father, who is a retired engineer, loves gardening.**
20. **The movie, which we watched together, was really entertaining.**
21. **Her wedding dress, which was handmade, looked absolutely stunning.**
22. **The mountain, which we climbed last summer, was quite challenging.**
23. **His guitar, which he bought in Spain, has a beautiful sound.**
24. **The scientist, who won the Nobel Prize, gave an inspiring speech.**
25. **The river, which flows through the city, is heavily polluted.**
26. **My cousin, who works as a journalist, has traveled to many countries.**
27. **The restaurant, which serves Italian cuisine, is always busy.**
28. **The park, which is located near my house, is a great place for a walk.**
29. **The old castle, which is now a museum, attracts many visitors.**
30. **Their new car, which is electric, is very eco-friendly.**
These examples illustrate how non-defining relative clauses add extra information to sentences without altering their core meaning.
Check Your Understanding.
1. **Which sentence contains a non-defining relative clause?**
- a) The man who is standing there is my uncle.
- b) My aunt, who lives in Canada, is visiting us next month.
- c) The car that I bought last week is already broken.
- d) none of the above
2. **Choose the correct non-defining relative clause to complete the sentence:** "The Great Wall of China, _______, is a popular tourist attraction."
- a) that was built over 2,000 years ago
- b) which was built over 2,000 years ago
- c) who was built over 2,000 years ago
- d) None of the above
3. **Which of the following is a non-defining relative clause?**
- a) The book which I am reading is interesting.
- b) The student who studies hard will succeed.
- c) Mr. Brown, who is our neighbor, is very friendly.
- d) None of the above.
4. **Identify the non-defining relative clause in the sentence:** "The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris, attracts millions of tourists every year."
- a) The Eiffel Tower
- b) which is located in Paris
- c) attracts millions of tourists every year
- d) None of the above.
5. **Select the sentence with the correct use of commas for a non-defining relative clause:**
- a) My brother who lives in New York, is a doctor.
- b) My brother, who lives in New York, is a doctor.
- c) My brother who lives in New York is, a doctor.
- d) None of the above.
6. **Choose the correct non-defining relative clause to complete the sentence:** "The artist, _______, will be exhibiting his work in the gallery."
- a) whose paintings are famous worldwide
- b) who paintings are famous worldwide
- c) which paintings are famous worldwide
- d) None of the above.
7. **Which relative pronoun is used incorrectly in the non-defining relative clause?** "My friend, that is a musician, is visiting next week."
- a) that
- b) is
- c) visiting
- d) None of the above.
8. **Select the correct sentence:**
- a) The car, that is parked outside, is mine.
- b) The car which is parked outside is mine.
- c) The car, which is parked outside, is mine
- d) None of the above.
9. **Identify the sentence with a non-defining relative clause:**
- a) The students who study hard get good grades.
- b) The new museum, which opened last week, is very interesting
- c) The house that Jack built is old.
- d) None of the above
10. **Choose the correct non-defining relative clause to complete the sentence:** "My grandmother, _______, makes the best apple pie."
- a) who is 80 years old
- b) that is 80 years old
- c) which is 80 years old
- d) None of the above.
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