Relative clauses are components of a sentence that are not necessary for its core meaning. While they can contribute to the overall message, their absence does not disrupt the sentence’s grammatical structure. In English, there exist two main categories of relative clauses. It’s crucial to differentiate between these categories as it influences the selection of the pronoun employed to introduce the clause.
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Defining clauses
A defining or descriptive clause indicates the particular individual or object we are discussing within a larger collection of individuals or objects. If a defining relative clause is omitted, the sentence’s significance undergoes a notable alteration. A defining relative clause is not set apart from the remainder of the sentence by commas or parentheses.
Examples
- The woman who visited me in the hospital was very kind.
- The umbrella that I bought last week is already broken.
- The man who stole my backpack has been arrested.
- The weather that we had this summer was beautiful.
Non-defining clauses
A non-defining or supplementary clause provides additional details about the individual or object under discussion. Should a non-defining relative clause be excluded from a sentence, certain specifics are forfeited, yet the fundamental meaning of the sentence persists. Non-defining relative clauses are consistently marked off from the rest of the sentence using commas or parentheses.
Examples
- The farmer, whose name was Fred, sold us 10 pounds of potatoes.
- Elephants, which are the largest land mammals, live in herds of 10 or more adults.
- The author, who graduated from the same university I did, gave a wonderful presentation.
- My mother, who is 86, lives in Paris.
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I am Nilay, an experienced English Language Assessment Director at the International English Test, where I have been working full-time since February 2020. I specialize in helping people worldwide validate their English proficiency through comprehensive assessments and certifications.
Before joining the International English Test, I worked as a self-employed English Language Assessment Consultant from January 2015 to December 2019. During this time, I assisted companies and individuals in improving their language skills, helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.
I hold a degree in Engineering and have also studied at Shafston International College in Australia. My educational background has equipped me with the tools to make a meaningful impact in the field of English language learning. Additionally, I enjoy sharing my expertise through articles that explore effective teaching methods and language assessment strategies, contributing to the International English Test and the broader assessment community.
