Non-Defining Relative Clause
Learn how to make a non-defining relative clause English.
Special Lesson Activities for This Grammar Point
Non-defining Relative Clauses
Point 1: Non-defining relative clauses provide additional information about a noun in the sentence, but they are not essential to understanding the main meaning of the sentence.
- Mary, who is my friend's sister, is a doctor.
- Mary is a doctor. Mary is my friend's wife.
- City Park, which is really beautiful, has lots of running trails.
- City Park is really beautiful. It has lot of running trails.
- My sister, who just got married, is moving to London.
- My sister just got married. She is moving to London.
- John's car, which he just bought, was stolen from the parking lot.
- John just bought his car. It was stolen from the parking lot.
Point 2: Non-defining relative clauses are introduced by the relative pronoun who when referring to people.
- My best friend, who is a chef, never cooks for himself.
- My daughter, who I think you met last year, just got married.
- The meeting was led by Bob, who runs the IT department.
- Mary, who most of you know, will give a presentation about AI.
Point 3: Non-defining relative clauses are introduced by relative the pronoun which when referring to things. The relative pronoun that is not used in non-defining relative clause.
- My gym, which is near my office, is open 24 hours.
- My computer, which is very slow, is over 10 years old.
- I drink a lot of green tea, which is supposed to be very healthy.
- She has a new cat, which she found on the street!
Point 4: The non-defining clause will not have a subject before the verb if the subject is the same as the noun it motifies.
- The dog, which belongs to my neighbor, barks all night.
- Jane, who is my colleague, is organizing a charity event.
- My new watch, which runs on solary power, tells perfect time.
- The new action movie, which stars Tom Cruise, is now playing downtown.
Point 5: If the clause refers to an object, then object is omitted in the relative clause.
- Susan, who you met -- last year, is coming over for dinner.
- You met Susan last year.
- My new computer, which I bought -- online, is so fast!
- I bought my new computer online,
- My bike, which I never ride --, just sits in the garage.
- I never ride my bike.
- The new cafe, which I just tried --, has great coffee.
- I just tried the new cafe.
Answer the following questions about the interview.
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