Grammar: Relative Clause: Defining Relative Clause and Non-defining Relative Clause

 Grammar: Relative Clause: Defining Relative Clause and Non-defining Relative Clause
                                

Relative clause

👉A relative clause/ pronoun is a phrase or clause that begins with the words like “that” or “which” or “who” whom or where and so on in a sentence that adds some information about noun, pronoun, or the subject. 

In the sentence “The dragon who breathed blue fire has retired,” “who breathed blue fire” is a relative clause.

👉Relative clauses are used to state additional information about the noun in the sentence.  It’s usually just a phrase or clause, that’s included as part of the main sentence.
For instance:  The teacher, who was standing in the field, turned round suddenly.
Here, the phrase “who was standing in the field” adds some extra information to the sentence to acknowledged a little more about the subject, the teacher.

Two types of clauses

1.     Defining Relative Clause
A defining relative clause clearly adds detail or essential information about a specific noun that is defined. It gives us information about the first part of the sentnece which is needed to identify a person or thing.  

For instance:
My sister who finished graduation this summer is spending the year in a historical tour.
The mansion whose doors are locked is rumoured to be a haunted house!

In above examples, the sentence following the terms ‘who’ and ‘whose’ add additional information but they are specific to the noun and uniquely identified with the terms: “ my sister” and “the mansion”. 

Here, significant point is that the sentence without the additional information is like something missing or incomplete.
-Melina is my best friend. I went on holiday with her. 

- Melina is my best friend who I went on holiday with. / Melina whom I went on holiday with is my best friend.
·        I spoke to the man.  (which man ?)
·        I read the letter. (which letter- some more information)

Here in this statement, we have no complete information. We require- which man? What about the man?  Some more detail information about him and therefore, we need a relative clause which provide detail about the noun.
·        I spoke to the man who gave you specific information.
·        I  read the letter which Mack had sent to me.
·        Do you know the guy who is talking to Mack over there?
·        I wrote my essay on a photo which was taken by William Jack.
If we omit this type of clause, the sentence does not make sense or has a different meaning:
Do you know the guy? (which guy?)
I wrote my essay on a photo. (what kind of photo?)
 

2.     Non-defining Relative Clause
Non-defining clauses add extra information, but not in the same way. As they are something additional, they’re not necessary to the meaning of the sentence, but just add an extra non-essential dimension. It provides additional information about a person, animal or thing with comma(,). The sentence will make a complete sense in absence of or without this extra information.
For example:

• The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci, who was also a prolific engineer and inventor.
• The human heart, which has a mass of about 300 grams, pumps blood throughout the body.
• Your sister, who gave $4000, saw the accident.
• My best friend, who is very nice, lives in Manchester.
• The teacher arrived on time, which amazed everyone.
• The private plane, which was rumoured to be the most expensive and luxurious in the world, belonged to the mysterious couple.

Here, the sentence – The private plane belonged to the mysterious people. – is itself complete and the sentence following “which…” add only extra information which can be removed from the statement as well.
 
 
Wh-Constructions /Relative Clauses
·        Who- for person/people/ subject -hf]  
·        Which- for things or animals  h'g
·        That – instead of  who or which h'g
·        Where- for places/ there   जहाँ                                  
·        Whom- for people as object    Who..  with  जसलाई
·        Whose- for people/possession (  's/ of) –h;sf]                
·        Why- for reason  lsg
·        When- for times like days, months, years etc ha
 
        Mrs. Sharma visited New York. Her daughter lives there.

• Mrs. Sharma visited New York where her daughter lives.
• Mrs. Sharma whose daugher lives in New York visited there.

  

Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses

1.Defining clause adds essential information to the sentence while Non-defining clause adds extra information to the sentence which can be removed as well from the statement.

• The dentist who treated me is my uncle.
• My uncle is a dentist, who plays at the same cricket club as you.

2.  “No use of commas” in defining clause while non-defining clause “takes commas” before it.

• The dentist who treated me is my uncle.
• My uncle is a dentist, who plays at the same cricket club as you.

3.     Defining and Non-defining clauses both Use:

Who: (for person/people as subject)
The woman who lives next door is a nurse.
I like the woman who lives next door. (If we don't say 'who lives next door', then we don't know which woman we mean)

• My sister Jene, who lives in New York, is a nurse.
• The passengers, who came out of the bus, went home.
• My sister, who lives in Japan, is a doctor.

 
Which: (for things)

• Sarmila works for a company which makes computers.
• Sarmila told me about her new job, which she is not enjoying very much.
• I live in Arica, which has some fantastic valleys.
• I really love the new Japanese restaurant, which we went to last night.

Whose: (possesion/ ‘s/ instead of his/her/their…)

• We met some people whose car had broken down.
• That’s  the woman whose baby boy chased  my cat away.
• Jack , whose car had broken down, was in a bad mood.

Where (For places/ there)

• What is the name of the place where you went on holidays?
• The hotel where we stayed was excellent.
• Jenisha has been just been to Wuhan, where her dad lives.

When (for times)

• I remember the day when I met her.
• This picture was drawn yesterday, when it was snowing.
• Whom (for person/people as object)
• This is Nicholas whom you met last month.
• This morning I met Nicholas, whom I hadn’t met for ages.

4.     Defining Clause uses – why and that but not Non-defining clause.

Why: (for reason)
The album was the reason why he became so popular.
That: (in place of who, whom or which)

• The painting which hangs on the wall./ that hangs on the wall.
• The girl who he married./ that he married.
• This is Nicholas whom he met last year./ that you met last year.

Note: Non-defining clause don’t use ‘why’ and ‘that’.

5. Clauses like ‘who’, ‘which’, and ‘that’ can be omitted from the statement as they come as object of the clause.
The drugs which/that the physician gave her should be taken once a day after meal.
(Object)                          (Subject)
The drugs the physician gave her should be taken once a day after meal.

6. Relative Pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb.
Defining Relative Clause:
The painting which hangs on the wall is antique. – the painting as subject
The woman who he married is Chinese. – the woman as object
Non-defining Relative Clause:
The building, which was very old, needs to be repaired. – the building as subject
The boat’s owner, who you have met yesterday, loves meeting people. – the boat’s owner as the object

7. Omit the object pronoun (him/her/it/them etc. and the repeated word from the second sentence.
We know little about the woman. He married her.
-         We know little about the woman whom/that he married. ( her-x)
The picture indicates Jack’s wife Nagma. He married her in 2011.
-         The picture indicates Jack’s wife Nagma, who he married (her-x) in 2011.

8.  Usually prepositions at the end of the clause but formal English it can be kept at the beginning of the clause (esp. with which and whom).

• It’s one which he was responsible for at work.
• It’s one for which he was responsible at work.
• Jene, who my sister worked with, has become a bank manager.
• Jene, with whom my sister worked, has become a bank manager.

9. No use of ‘that’ after preposition (Defining  clause)

• The hall, in which the meeting was held, was too small.
• The hall, in that the meeting was held, was too small. – Incorrect

10.  Defining Relative Clause is used in writing and in speaking while Non-defining Relative Clause is used in only writing, but not in speaking.

Let’s Practice: Which  one is correct?

I.    Have you ever been back to the town, that you were born in?
    Have you ever been back to the town that you were born in?
II.  My left leg which I broke  two years ago is still giving me trouble.
     My left leg, which I broke two years ago, is still given me trouble.
III.  I really love the new Chinese restaurant, which we went to last night.
     I really love the new Chinese restaurant which we went to last night.
IV.  London, which is the capital of England, is one of the largest cities in the world.
     London which is the capital of England  is one of the largest cities in the world.
V.  Queen Elizabeth II, who is 83, has been the queen of England for 57 years now.
    Elizabeth II who is 83 has been the queen of England for 57 years now.
VI. That's the dog that bit me.
      That’s the dog, that bit me.
VII. Tom Cruise, who has starred a lot of films, is a famous American actor.
       Tom Cruise who has starred a lot of films is a famous American actor.
VIII.   The village where I grew up is very small.
      The village, where I grew up, is very small.
IX. This is the dress my mother has made for me.
     This is the dress, my mother has made for me.
   (I.b, II.a, III.b, IV.a, V.a, VI.a, VII.b, VIII.a, IX. a)
 
Use appropriate Relative Clause.

1.     The 5 star hotel ____ we stayed was very comfortable.
2.     The manager ____ interviewed me seemed friendly enough.
3       The car ____ was stolen belonged to my friend.
4       The house ____ they have rented is in the centre of town.
5       The Queen, ____ lives in Buckingham Palace, has three sons.
6.     The house ____ I live in now is smaller than the old one.
7.     Some people say that K. P. Oli, ____ is Prime Minister, should resign.
8.     The book ____ I bought yesterday cost over $20.

Complete each sentence with a relative pronoun.
1.  The town where ....I grew up has changed a lot in the last few years.
2. Luca, ……goes to school with my sister, is a really good tennis player.
3. Spring is the time of year........I like best.
4. We finally arrived home at nearly 2 in the morning, by… .time we were all exhausted.
5. The audience consisted of about 20 people, most of …...left before the end of the play.
6.  The relaxed atmosphere is ………. I like best about living here.
7. Jessica told everyone what had happened, which is .….....I don't trust her.
8. We were back home by 9.30, the time at……many people were just going out.
9.  That's Marco, …...... brother is in my class at school.
10. I usually get home at 6.30 in the morning,…….many people are just getting up.

(2. Who         3.Which/that   4. which           5.whom            6. What
7. why          8. Which          9. Whose          10. When)

Join these sentences using relative pronouns beginning with the words given.
1. My school is very big. It is in Nepalgunj.
2. Rajesh Hamal is a Nepali actor. He plays vital role in Shankar.
3. I bought this cake yesterday. It tastes delicious.
4. Michael is a policeman. His father is a judge.
5. I bought a computer last month. It is not working well.
6. Brenda is a friend. I went on holiday with her.
 


(All Images Credit: Google Images)