Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses Exercises

Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses – Exercises

These exercises focus on Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses

What Are Relative Clauses?

Relative clauses are parts of a sentence that begin with relative pronouns like who, which, that, whose, where, or when. They describe or give more information about a noun in the sentence.

Examples:

The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
My car, which is red, is parked outside.

Defining Relative Clauses

A defining relative clause gives essential information about the noun it describes. Without this information, the sentence would lose its meaning.

Key Features:

No commas are used.
Uses who, which, that, whose, where, or when.

Examples:

The book that I borrowed from you is amazing.
The man who fixed my car did a great job.

Structure:

Main clause + relative pronoun + defining clause

Relative Pronoun	Use	Example
Who	For people	The teacher who helped me is kind.
Which	For things or animals	The movie which I saw yesterday was great.
That	For people, things, or animals (informal)	The car that he bought is expensive.
Whose	To show possession	The boy whose dog is lost is crying.
Where	For places	The city where I grew up is beautiful.
When	For times	The day when we met was unforgettable.

Non-defining Relative Clauses

A non-defining relative clause adds extra, non-essential information about a noun. The sentence would still make sense without this clause.

Key Features:

Commas are used to separate the clause.
Does not use "that."
Commonly uses who, which, whose, where, or when.

Examples:

My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting us next week.
The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is a famous landmark.

Structure:

Main clause, + relative pronoun + non-defining clause, + rest of the sentence

Comparison of Defining and Non-defining Clauses

Feature	Defining Relative Clause	Non-defining Relative Clause
Importance	Essential to the sentence’s meaning	Extra information, not essential
Punctuation	No commas	Commas separate the clause
Use of "that"	Can use "that"	Cannot use "that"
Example (Person)	The girl who is wearing red is my friend.	My friend, who is wearing red, is here.
Example (Thing)	I bought the house that has a garden.	The house, which has a garden, is beautiful.

Common Errors

Misusing commas

Incorrect: The teacher, who helped me, is kind. (not extra information)
Correct: The teacher who helped me is kind.

Using "that" in non-defining clauses

Incorrect: My laptop, that is new, is very fast.
Correct: My laptop, which is new, is very fast.

Confusing defining and non-defining clauses

Incorrect: The car, that he drives, is blue. (essential information, no commas)
Correct: The car that he drives is blue.

Forgetting the relative pronoun

Incorrect: The book I read yesterday is excellent.
Correct: The book that I read yesterday is excellent. (This is acceptable in informal contexts, but be cautious in formal writing.)

Everyday Uses

Defining Clauses

At Work: "The colleague who helped me with the report deserves credit."
At Home: "The recipe that you shared was delicious."

Non-defining Clauses

At Work: "The CEO, who has 20 years of experience, is giving a speech."
At Home: "My mother, whose cooking is amazing, made dinner."

FAQ

What are defining relative clauses?

Defining relative clauses provide essential information about a noun. Without them, the sentence’s meaning changes.

What are non-defining relative clauses?

Non-defining relative clauses add extra, non-essential information. They are separated by commas.

Can I use "that" in non-defining relative clauses?

No, "that" is only used in defining relative clauses. Use "who" or "which" for non-defining clauses.

What is the difference between "which" and "that"?

"Which" is used for both defining and non-defining clauses. "That" is only used in defining clauses and cannot be used with commas.

How can I avoid common errors with relative clauses?

Pay attention to whether the information is essential (defining, no commas) or extra (non-defining, with commas).