Sentences with non defining relative clauses are grammatical even if you remove the non defining relative clause. Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. The relative clause in the second sentence is called a non defining clause as it only gives us extra, non crucial information. English grammar defining relative clauses esl activities. A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes. The river nile, which is over 6,500 kilometres long, is egypts main source of water. 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 the information, which is not necessary. Defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way as to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. Some exercises and teachers tips to practice the defining clauses and the non defining clauses alike. You also cannot leave out the relative pronoun in non defining relative clauses, in the way you sometimes can in defining relative clauses. A worsheet to practice travel vocabulary and relative pronouns an extra activity to use with the. In non defining relative clauses, you cannot replace other pronouns with that. We dont use that in non defining relative clauses, so we need to use which if the pronoun refers to a thing, and who if it refers to a person. Grammatik relative clauses and contact clauses 4 losungen exercise 1 a nick is a boy who is in my class.
School of english defining and nondefining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals. When there is a preposition in a relative clause, this usually goes at the end of the sentence. A clause of this kind is essential to the clear understanding of the noun. Paul, who started singing at 15, is now very famous. A defining relative clauses give essential information to the person or thing we are talking about. The real point of the sentence is that the house needs painting. Remember that the defining clause is not separated from the rest of the. 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. Before we can identify the differences between defining and nondefining clauses, its helpful to. Defining and nondefinining relative clauses exercises pdf. 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. They can act as the subject or the object of the relative clause.
Should we use a defining relative clause or a nondefining relative clause. The italicized words are effectively an aside and could be deleted. A boy sister is in my class was in the bank at that time. Complete the sentences with relative pronouns or relative adverbs. Defining and nondefining clauses are both types of relative clauses clauses that share some extra information about something. Nondefining relative clauses give additional information about people, things or places. 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. However, sometimes a relative clause is so important that the main sentence will be difficult to understand or have no meaning without it. Defining clauses restrictive clauses a defining restrictive clause is one that is.
Defining vs nondefining there are two types of relative clauses, defining and nondefining. Relative clauses and contact clauses englischtipps. Free definingnon defining relative clauses worksheets you have reached the section devoted to defining and nondefining relative clauses which are some intimidating phrases so you might want to leave them out of your introduction and focus on the important stuff such as how to form and use them. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets. London, which is the capital of england, is one of the largest cities in the world. Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which. Defining clauses defining clauses specifydefine which personthinganimal is meant. This smartphone, i bought last week, takes great photos. School of english defining and non defining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals. The ring that was stolen from my room hasnt been found yet.
Dec 19, 2009 practice on the defining and non defining relative clauses. Defining and nondefining relative clauses who, whom, whose, which, that. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise three things about nondefining relative clauses. Add to my workbooks 95 embed in my website or blog. Sentences with nondefining relative clauses are grammatical even if you remove the nondefining relative clause. Defining and nondefining relative clauses test english. Thank you for your letter, which i was very happy to get. Fill in the blanks with which, that, whom, who, or whose. Our students can practise relative clauses defining and nondefining with this exercise. Fernandez carmona, english grammar with exercises, longman, 2000. We dont use that in nondefining relative clauses but only who for people, which for things, whose possession, and where places.
Defining and non defining relative clauses 2 pages worksheet with grammar guide. Exercises with answers and grammar rules with examples. 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 and non defining relative clauses exercises pdf. There are two types of relative clauses 1 defining 2 nondefining defining relative clauses specify a particular noun. We use relative clauses to combine two simple sentences with the same noun phrases. Nondefining relative clauses english esl worksheets for distance. Without this information, it would be difficult to know who or what is meant. The relative clause in the first sentence in called a defining clause as it defines, it tells us exactly which person or thing we are talking about. In the grammar chart below, you can see the main differences between them. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining.
Nondefining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something. There are defining and non defining relative sentences. Amelia, mother is from shanghai, speaks english and chinese fluently. But apart from that the two types of clauses are a little different. The pronoun is required, even when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause. The information is essential in order to understand what or who is being referred to. You also cannot leave out the relative pronoun in nondefining relative clauses, in the way you sometimes can in defining relative clauses. Exercise on relative clauses contact clauses nondefining relative clauses. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining relative.
Dec 03, 2015 defining and nondefining clauses are both types of relative clauses clauses that share some extra information about something. Buckingham palace, the queen of england lives, is in the. A relative clause is an added part in a sentence that is used in relation to the main sentence. Defining and non defining relative clauses 2 pages worksheet with grammar guide 21,485 downloads. Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where. Home page grammar exercises intermediate relative clause gap fill. To understand the differences between that and which it is necessary to understand what defining restrictive and nondefining nonrestrictive clauses are.
Non defining relative pronouns exercise three things about non defining relative clauses. 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. Relative pronounsadverbs defining and non defining relative clauses. Nondefining determine what type of clause the sentence has, and write either defining if the relative clause is defining or non. Use who, that the girl who is the best in our class is nayad. 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. The relative clause in the second sentence is called a nondefining clause as it only gives us extra, noncrucial information. Non defining relative clauses are not used in spoken english.
Bbc learning english quiznet nondefining relative clauses. Non defining relative clauses exercises non defining relative clause is a type of clause that explains nouns or noun phrases. My brother who lives in cardiff is much older than me. The pronoun cannot be left out because it is the subject of the relative clause. Bill clinton was the president wife was called hillary. In contrast to relative clause defining where if the clause is omitted, the sentence will have less meaning. Exercise on relative clauses contact clauses relative pronouns who which whose choose the correct relative pronoun who, which, whose. In nondefining relative clauses, you cannot replace other pronouns with that. It can be used in a defining relative clause to define the noun it supports. We cant drop the relative pronoun in this kind of clause, even if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. Have they found the prisoner who escaped last week. Sunday is the day most countries respect a day of rest in the week.
Non defining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something. Non defining clauses non restrictive clauses a non defining non restrictive clause is one that can be regarded as parenthetical. The two different types of relative clauses are exemplified with example sentences. That cannot be used and even though there is a pronoun in the relative clause which cannot be left out because in nondefining relative clauses the pronoun can never be left out. The pronoun can never be omitted in a nondefining relative clause. 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. That cannot be used and even though there is a pronoun in the relative clause which cannot be left out because in non defining relative clauses the pronoun can never be left out. Read each sentence and underline the relative clause.
The following esl efl resources are available for defining relative clauses grammar. Dublin, is the capital of ireland, is my favourite city. The river nile is egypts main source of water is a complete grammatical sentence. Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which types of relative clauses. A clause of this kind is essential to clear understanding of the noun. In nondefining sentences you neither omit the relative pronoun nor use that.
Relative pronouns relative pronouns are the words that introduce relative clauses. Practice on the defining and nondefining relative clauses. Defining and nondefining relative clauses intermediate. Relative clauses defining and nondefining test english. Relative clauses nondefining relative clauses grammar. Non defining relative clauses exercises with answers. Diagonal 26, 1r 1a 0006 arcelona edifici indsor, entre ia augusta i rambla catalunya seu 1 via ugusta 6 s. Whats the difference between defining and nondefining. Heres a list of all the relative clause exercises on the site. The vocabulary is varied and the level is for secondary school. English esl defining relative clauses worksheets most. We can use that in defining relative clauses we can use. Grammar exercise 4 defining and nondefining relative clauses we use relative clauses to give additional information.
In defining clauses, we can omit the relative pronoun in the position of object. A relative clause can also modify a pronoun, as in he to whom i have written, or a noun phrase which already contains a modifier, as in the black panther in the tree, which is about to pounce. Free definingnon defining relative clauses worksheets. These relative clause sentences include rephrasing and gap fill exersices. Defining clauses restrictive clauses a defining relative clause tells which noun we are talking about. Free definingnondefining relative clauses worksheets.