Nondefining relative clauses do not define or identify the noun. Relative pronouns have the same form when they refer to masculine, feminine, singular or plural nouns. The relative pronouns where and when are used with place and time nouns. It isnt essential for understanding who or what we are talking about. Defining relative clause we use defining relative clause to define which person or thing the speaker is referring to. Relative pronouns and clauses in english grammar exercises. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets. Defining and nondefining relative clauses intermediate. Restrictive relative clauses are also called defining relative clauses.
Object of a verb which or that or no relative at all. Relative clauses defining relative clauses grammar. Relative clauses introduction there are two types of relative clauses. The relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause. They are introduced by a relative pronoun like that, which, who, whose, where and when. A defining relative clause gives essential information about the noun or noun phrase it modifies, without which the sentence wouldnt make sense as the listener or reader would not be able to identify the noun in the sentence the hotel that we stayed in wasnt bad. School of english defining and nondefining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals. Exercise 1 defining relative clauses solutions oxford. Clauses and phrases is a unique chapter to read to learn english grammar which is read under chapter clauses in english grammar. Defining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun sometimes omitted, a verb, and optional other elements such as the subject or object of the verb. Discover what defining and nondefining means and learn how to use them with examples. This relative clauses worksheet helps students to practice defining relative clauses with who, which, where and when. If plural, then the verb will be in the plural form.
Here we need the relative pronoun which, because it is a nondefining relative clause and the first word after the pronoun is a verb. Relative clauses definition and examples in english. A relative clause is an added part in a sentence that is used in relation to the main sentence. The letter thatwhich peter has sent to you is in the drawer. Amelia, mother is from shanghai, speaks english and chinese fluently.
The relative pronoun whose is used in place of the possessive pronoun. Generally, there are two types of relative clauses. A relative clause is a clause that usually modifies a noun or noun phrase and is introduced by a relative pronoun which, that, who, whom, whose, a relative adverb where, when, why, or a zero relative. In defining clauses, we can omit the relative pronoun in the position of object. Relative clauses are usually introduced by a relative pronoun usually who, which, that, but when, where and whose are also possible with defining relative clauses we can use who or that to talk about people. In the overt case the relative clause is marked by the presence of one of the relative words who, whom, whose. Relative clauses in english exercises advanced level esl.
Without this information, it would be difficult to know who or what is meant. I broke the plate which that was a wedding present. Should we use a defining relative clause or a nondefining relative clause. The sentence in italics should become the relative clause. I caught a ride with tony, whose car barely made it up the hill. Nondefining relative clauses are not used in spoken english.
Students begin with a gapfill exercise where they complete sentences by choosing the correct relative pronouns. Prepositions in relative clauses when there is a preposition in a defining relative clause this can go before the relative pronoun or at the end of the clause. You may remove the relative pronoun and reduce your sentence in certain conditions. A noun clause is a type of dependent clause that acts as a noun in the sentence. Defining relative clauses exercise 1 make one sentence from the two short ones. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining relative.
Relative clauses which give extra information, as in the example sentences above, must be separated off by commas. The pronoun is required, even when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause. Remember that the defining clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence by a commacommas. Without the defining relative clause we do not know which film or man is being spoken about. Today teacher robin will be explaining relative clauses to us in english. This is the picture whichthat caused such a sensation. Relative clauses nondefining relative clauses grammar. Defining clauses defining clauses specify define which personthinganimal is meant.
We reduce it by omitting the subject of the dependent clause and the be form of the verb. Make one sentence by changing the sentence in italics into a defining relative clause. Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. Nondefining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something. We can use that in defining relative clauses we can use that instead of. The relative pronoun can be the subject or the object of the relative clause. If you remove a nondefining relative clause, the sentence still has the same meaning. Diagonal 26, 1r 1a 0006 arcelona edifici indsor, entre ia augusta i rambla catalunya seu 1 via ugusta 6 s. You also cannot leave out the relative pronoun in nondefining relative clauses, in the way you sometimes can in defining relative clauses. Apr 15, 2019 clauses and phrases is a unique chapter to read to learn english grammar which is read under chapter clauses in english grammar.
In nondefining relative clauses, you cannot replace other pronouns with that. Defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way as to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. A clause of this kind is essential to clear understanding of the noun. 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. An important type of subordinate clause is the relative clause. Defining and nondefining relative clauses test english. Dec 19, 2009 practice on the defining and nondefining relative clauses. Otherwise, we may not be able to figure out which person or thing the speaker is talking about. Grammar exercise 4 defining and nondefining relative clauses we use relative clauses to give additional information.
Defining relative pronouns exercise people that who whom owners whose things that which places where when the relative pronoun is an object, it can be omitted except with whose and where. We dont need a relative pronoun, because the first word in the relative clause. The relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb. If you remove a defining relative clause, the sentence has a different meaning or is incomplete. 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. The verb in adjective clause must be singular if the subject of the relative pronoun refers to a singular noun. It is sometimes called an adjective clause because it functions like an adjectiveit gives more information about a noun. A defining relative clauses give essential information to the person or thing we are talking about. A clause of this kind is essential to the clear understanding of the noun. Theres a boy in grade 8 whose father is a professional tennis player. Nonrestrictive relative clauses are also called nondefining relative clauses in both restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses, the relative pronoun can act as the subject or object.
Fernandez carmona, english grammar with exercises, longman, 2000. Bbc learning english quiznet nondefining relative clauses. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise three things about nondefining relative clauses. Here we are providing you with clauses definition, clauses meaning, and all types of clauses and some clauses examples with clauses exercises.
Defining relative clauses exercise 3 make one sentence by changing the sentence in italics into a defining relative clause. Defining and nondefining relative clauses who, whom, whose, which, that. Exercises with answers and grammar rules with examples. The man who wants to talk to you is waiting for you. Have they found the prisoner who escaped last week. 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.
This includes main clause examples with clauses and phrases exercises and worksheet. However, sometimes a relative clause is so important that the main sentence will be difficult to understand or have no meaning without it. The following relative pronouns are used in defining relative clauses. There are defining and non defining relative sentences. A relative clause always begins with a relative pronoun, which substitutes for a noun, a noun. Buckingham palace, the queen of england lives, is in the. My brother who lives in cardiff is much older than me. You can see if a relative clause is defining or nondefining by removing it from the sentence.
However, it cannot stand alone as a complete thought. Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where. Next weekend im going to glasgow, where my sister lives. Turn the underlined sentence into a relative clause. A noun clause will always contain a subject and a verb. Nondefining relative clauses are placed after nouns which are definite already. If the defining relative clause were removed from the sentence, the sentence would still be gramatically correct, but its meaning would have changed significantly.
Relative clauses are generally introduced by a relative pronoun, such as who, or which. Anaphoric elements in relative clauses relative clauses are so called because they are related by their form to an antecedent. Defining vs nondefining relative clauses in a defining relative clause the information is essential to identify who or what we are talking about, whereas in nondefining relative clauses we just add extra the information, which is not necessary. Relative clauses that give additional information are called defining. Relative clauses pdf quiz relative clauses worksheet relative clauses pdf exercises defining and. Complete the sentences with relative pronouns or relative adverbs. Both that and which can be used in this relative clause and the pronoun can be left out because there is a subject. It can be used in a defining relative clause to define the noun it supports. They contain within their structure an anaphoric element whose interpretation is determined by the antecedent. Mar, 2016 mix play all mix aprende ingles con marcos youtube como usar las defining and non defining clauses en ingles duration. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining. Defining and non defining relative clauses exercises pdf. Commas are not used to separate defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence.
The man who lives beside us is ill the video which you recommended was terrific. Dublin, is the capital of ireland, is my favourite city. Defining and nondefinining relative clauses exercises pdf. Defining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun sometimes omitted, a verb, and optional other. The stairs whichthat lead to the cellar are rather slippery. The first case is more formal and there we cant omit the relative, we cant use that, and we use whom instead of. Relative pronouns relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. Defining relative clauses add essential information to the sentence. The relative pronoun that cannot be used to introduce an extrainformation nondefining clause about a person. A defining relative clause also called identifying relative clauses or restrictive relative clauses gives essential information about the noun or noun phrase it modifies, the purpose of a defining relative clause is to clearly define who or what we are talking about. Here, the underlined portion is the independent clause that can stand. Heres a list of all the relative clause exercises on the site. A relative clause can be used to give additional information about a noun.