We dont use that in nondefining relative clauses, so we need to use which if the pronoun refers to a thing, and who if it refers to a person. Defining and nondefining relative clauses who, whom, whose, which, that. Defining restrictive clauses should never be used with commas and nondefining nonrestrictive clauses should always. Thank you for your letter, which i was very happy to get. Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which. As the name suggests, defining relative clauses give essential information to define or identify the person or thing we are talking about. Drag the appropriate relative pronoun into the answers area to complete this exercise. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets. A clause of this kind is essential to clear understanding of the noun. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise autoenglish. The river nile, which is over 6,500 kilometres long, is egypts main source of water. There are defining and non defining relative sentences. Nondefining relative clauses give additional information about people, things or places. In nondefining relative clauses, you cannot replace other pronouns with that.
The pronoun is required, even when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause. Defining restrictive and nondefining nonrestrictive clauses must be introduced by the appropriate relative pronoun who, which, that, whose. Nondefining relative clauses also known as nonrestrictive, or parenthetical, clauses provide some additional information that is not essential and may be omitted without affecting the contents of the sentence. Non defining relative clauses are not used in spoken english. London, which is the capital of england, is one of the largest cities in the world. Relative pronouns relative pronouns are the words that introduce relative clauses. We dont use that in nondefining relative clauses but only who for people, which for things, whose possession, and where places.
Whats the difference between defining and nondefining. Before we can identify the differences between defining and nondefining clauses, its helpful to. The punctuation is different for defining and nondefining clauses. The ring that was stolen from my room hasnt been found yet. This smartphone, i bought last week, takes great photos. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise cattaneodallaglio. Nonrestrictive relative clauses are also called nondefining relative clauses. Free definingnon defining relative clauses worksheets. To understand the distinctions between that and which it is necessary to understand defining restrictive and nondefining nonrestrictive clauses learning these distinctions is one technical aspect of grammar that every user of english should understand, because it is at the root of an assortment of grammatical errors.
A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes. Defining and non defining relative clauses 2 pages worksheet with grammar guide. Relative clauses in english exercises advanced level esl. If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb but by a noun or pronoun, the relative pronoun is an object pronoun. Amelia, mother is from shanghai, speaks english and chinese fluently. Today teacher robin will be explaining relative clauses to us in english. We can use who to talk about people, which to talk about things and whose to refer to the person or thing that. Remember that the defining clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Defining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun sometimes omitted, a verb, and optional other. The information is essential in order to understand what or who is being referred to. School of english defining and nondefining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals.
Relative clauses nondefining relative clauses grammar. Buckingham palace, the queen of england lives, is in the. You also cannot leave out the relative pronoun in nondefining relative clauses, in the way you sometimes can in defining relative clauses. We use relative clauses to combine two simple sentences with the same noun phrases. Defining and nondefining clauses are both types of relative clauses clauses that share some extra information about something. All relative pronouns except that can be used in nondefining clauses. But apart from that the two types of clauses are a little different. We also use commas to separate the clause from the rest of the sentence. Defining vs nondefining there are two types of relative clauses, defining and nondefining. Should we use a defining relative clause or a nondefining relative clause. Relative clauses defining and nondefining test english. Defining and nondefining relative clauses nondefining relative clauses. Nondefining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something.
Use who, that the girl who is the best in our class is nayad. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining. This is a video activity to practice using relative pronouns who, which, where, and that. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise three things about nondefining relative clauses.
In non defining relative clauses, you cannot replace other pronouns with that. We always use a relative pronoun or adverb to start a non defining relative clause. In the grammar chart below, you can see the main differences between them. The relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb. Mostly the students have to face a lot of problems while using relative. The following esl efl resources are available for defining relative clauses grammar. There are two types of relative clauses 1 defining 2 nondefining defining relative clauses specify a particular noun. The house, which was built in 1883, has just been opened to the public. Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where.
The award was given to sara, whose short story impressed the judges. In this sentence we understand that there are many dogs in the world, but we are only talking about the ones that like cats. Complete the sentences with relative pronouns or relative adverbs. Relative pronouns and clauses in english grammar exercises. Non defining relative pronouns exercise three things about non defining relative clauses. The worksheet consists of 2 exercises for lthe topic complex sentences choosing the appropriate endings to the sentences and finding necessary pronouns. Without the defining relative clause we do not know which film or man is being spoken about. Nondefining relative clauses defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. Defining and nondefining english grammar exercises. The pronoun can never be omitted in a nondefining relative clause. The river nile is egypts main source of water is a complete grammatical sentence. The moon, which goes around earth, is covered in rocks. The pronoun cannot be left out because it is the subject of the relative clause.
Relative pronouns relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. Discover what defining and non defining means and learn how to use them with examples. Sentences with nondefining relative clauses are grammatical even if you remove the nondefining relative clause. We cant drop the relative pronoun in this kind of clause, even if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. If the defining relative clause were removed from the sentence, the sentence would still be gramatically correct, but its meaning would have changed significantly.
A clause of this kind is essential to the clear understanding of the noun. Fill in the following sentences with the appropriate relative pronoun. Pdf defining and nondefining relative clauses nondefining. Defining relative clauses 1 in pdf here defining relative clauses 2 in pdf here defining relative clauses 3 in pdf here defining relative clauses 4 in pdf here go to the main relative clauses explanation page here. You also cannot leave out the relative pronoun in non defining relative clauses, in the way you sometimes can in defining relative clauses. Defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way as to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. English esl defining relative clauses worksheets most. Free definingnondefining relative clauses worksheets. Relative clauses practice relative pronouns exercise 1 2 3 who vs which exercise 1 2 3 which or where exercise drag and drop exercises. Relative pronouns adjective clauses whose vs of which vs of whom subject exercises. Our students can practise relative clauses defining and nondefining with this exercise. Diagonal 26, 1r 1a 0006 arcelona edifici indsor, entre ia augusta i rambla catalunya seu 1 via ugusta 6 s.
Exercises with answers and grammar rules with examples. Nondefining relative clauses are not used in spoken english. We can use exactly the same relative pronouns in defining and nondefining relative clauses. Dublin, is the capital of ireland, is my favourite city. It can be used in a defining relative clause to define the noun it supports. Bbc learning english quiznet nondefining relative clauses. Defining clauses defining clauses specifydefine which personthinganimal is meant.
Defining and nondefinining relative clauses exercises pdf. Fernandez carmona, english grammar with exercises, longman, 2000. John, whom i have known for eight years, is one of my closest friends. Defining clauses restrictive clauses a defining relative clause tells which noun we are talking about. Heres a list of all the relative clause exercises on the site. The apple which george lay on the table was put back into the basket. In defining relative clauses, the pronouns who, whom, and which are often replaced by that in spoken english. Object pronouns can be dropped in defining relative clauses, which are then called contact clauses. Let us imagine two very different planets in the solar system. In both restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses, the relative pronoun can act as the subject or object. Non defining relative clauses defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. Defining relative clauses introduce essential information to identify people, things or places. It isnt essential for understanding who or what we are talking about. The boy who is waiting for me is one of my closest friends.