01.02.2021 · Defining relative clauses. Defining relative clauses define or identify which person, animal or thing we are talking about. The information in a defining relative clause is necessary and important. For example: My sister who works in the city centre is married.. This sentence suggests that I have more than one sister.
The information in a defining relative clause is essential, so we can’t leave out the relative clause. The information in a non-defining relative clause is extra information which isn’t essential, so we can leave out the relative clause.
There is a difference in meaning between defining and non-defining clauses that depends on the presence or absence of the comma. For example: They have two sons who are doctors. Defining clause; the meaning is that there are more sons in the family, e.g.: They have two sons who are doctors and one who is an architect.
05.01.2022 · Relative clauses: defining and non-defining - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
A relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a nominal. There are two kinds of relative clauses: non-defining and defining, also called non ...
Now that we know what a relative clause is, let us take a look at defining and non-defining relative clauses. A defining relative clause identifies who or what ...
A type of relative clause, a non-defining relative clause tells us more about the subject of a sentence, but the information doesn't help to define what ...
Non-defining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun, a verb, and optional other elements such as the subject or object of the verb. Commas or ...
There is a difference in meaning between defining and non-defining clauses that depends on the presence or absence of the comma. For example: They have two sons ...
In a defining relative clause the information is essential to identify who or what we are talking about, whereas in non-defining relative clauses we just add extra the information, which is not necessary. Compare: My brother who lives in Cardiff is much older than me. (=I have more than one brother and the relative clause helps identify which brother I am talking about)
Non-defining relative clauses Non-defining relative clauses are used between commas, and they add extra information which is not necessary to know who or what we are talking about. This music, which I really like, was used at the show. My sister, who I truly admire, is coming for Thanksgiving. We cannot use that, and we cannot omit who/which
Relative clauses • Two types: • defining relative clauses: give essential information to understand the sentence. We need the relative to understand the sentence. • non-defining relative clauses: give EXTRA information. If we remove the relative clause, the sentence still makes sense.
defining relative clauses are used to add important information. The sentence would have a different meaning without the defining relative clause. I’m going to wear the skirt that I bought in London. The defining relative clause tells us which skirt. • The skirt, which is a lovely dark blue colour, only cost £10. The non-defining relative ...
A defining relative clause tells which noun we are talking about: ... A non-defining relative clause gives us extra information about something. We don't need ...