Defining vs non-defining – Grammar chart
Defining relative clauses
Defining relative clauses carry essential information because they identify which thing or person we are talking about, and they are used without commas.
- This is the music which was used at the show.
- Have they found the prisoner who escaped last week?
We can use that
In defining relative clauses, we can use that instead of which or who.
- This is the music that was used at the show.
- Have they found the prisoner that escaped last week?
When can we omit who/which/that?
Who/which/that can be omitted if they are followed by subject + verb
- Can you pass me the box (which/that) I keep in the top drawer?
- You are not the man (who/that) I thought you were.
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
In non-defining relative clauses (between commas), we cannot use that, and we cannot omit who/which.
Defining vs non-defining relative clauses
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 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)
- My brother, who lives in Cardiff, is much older than me. (=I have only one brother, so we don’t need the relative clause to know who I am talking about)
Relative pronouns and adverbs
Here, you can see a grammar chart with the relative pronouns and adverbs that we normally use in relative clauses.
Common mistakes
Two subjects
When who, which, or that is the subject of a relative clause, we don’t use another pronoun or noun after it because we can only have one subject (who, which, or that).
That between commas
We cannot use the relative pronoun that in a non-defining relative clause (between commas)