What Are Non Defining Relative Clauses?
Non-defining relative clauses are clauses that add extra information to a sentence without altering its core meaning. They provide additional details about a noun that is already specific and are set off by commas.
These clauses use pronouns like "who," "whom," "whose," and "which," and are essential for enriching sentences without changing their fundamental message.
What are Non-defining Relative Clauses?
Non-defining relative clauses provide additional information about a noun that is already identified. Unlike defining relative clauses, they do not change the meaning of the sentence but add extra details.
For example:
My brother, who lives in New York, is a doctor.
The book, which I bought yesterday, is fascinating.
Defining relative clauses, on the other hand, are essential to the meaning of the sentence:
The man who lives next door is a doctor.
The book that I bought yesterday is fascinating.
Structure of Non-defining Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses usually follow the noun they describe and are separated by commas. Common relative pronouns used are "who," "whom," "whose," and "which." The clause should not be introduced by "that."
For example:
Sarah, who is my best friend, is coming to visit.
The car, which is red, belongs to John.
My neighbor, whose garden is beautiful, won an award.
Rules:
Always use commas to enclose non-defining relative clauses.
Do not use the pronoun "that" to introduce a non-defining relative clause.
The clause provides non-essential information, meaning the sentence would still be grammatically correct without it.
Usage of Non-defining Relative Clauses
These clauses are used to add extra information that the reader might find interesting but is not essential to the main point of the sentence.
For example:
My boss, who has a great sense of humor, approved my leave.
The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is a famous landmark.
They help in providing additional context and details:
Our office manager, who joined last year, has improved our workflow.
The proposal, which was submitted on Monday, was accepted.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many learners confuse non-defining and defining relative clauses or misuse commas. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:
Incorrect: The man who I met yesterday, is a famous actor. Correct: The man, who I met yesterday, is a famous actor.
Incorrect: The company which won the award has a great reputation. Correct: The company, which won the award, has a great reputation.
Incorrect: The book, that I borrowed, is very interesting. Correct: The book, which I borrowed, is very interesting.
Tips to avoid mistakes:
Always use commas to set off non-defining relative clauses.
Ensure the additional information is non-essential to the main sentence.
Remember to use "which" instead of "that" for non-defining clauses.
Practice Exercises
To master non-defining relative clauses, practice is essential. Here are some exercises:
Exercise 1: Rewrite the sentences to include non-defining relative clauses:
The teacher is very experienced. She teaches English.
The teacher, who teaches English, is very experienced.
The movie is a classic. It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
The movie, which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is a classic.
My friend is a talented musician. He plays the guitar.
My friend, who plays the guitar, is a talented musician.
Exercise 2: Add non-defining relative clauses to the sentences:
The park is lovely. It is near my house.
The park, which is near my house, is lovely.
The author is very famous. She wrote the novel.
The author, who wrote the novel, is very famous.
The company is expanding rapidly. It was founded in 2010.
The company, which was founded in 2010, is expanding rapidly.
Exercise 3: Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences:
The artist who won the award, is very talented.
The artist, who won the award, is very talented.
The laptop, that I bought last year, is already broken.
The laptop, which I bought last year, is already broken.
The recipe which I used, was very simple.
The recipe, which I used, was very simple.
Answers for self-assessment:
The teacher, who teaches English, is very experienced.
The movie, which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is a classic.
My friend, who plays the guitar, is a talented musician.
The park, which is near my house, is lovely.
The author, who wrote the novel, is very famous.
The company, which was founded in 2010, is expanding rapidly.
The artist, who won the award, is very talented.
The laptop, which I bought last year, is already broken.
The recipe, which I used, was very simple.