1. Defining and Non-defining relative clauses

2. Defining relative clauses
The girl
WHO/THAT
loves me.
The CD
WHICH/THAT
I’m listening to is very good.
The woman
WHOSE
dog always follows her.
The square
WHERE
the best cafés are.
The was the time
WHEN
I got bad marks.
We use defining relative clauses to say who or what we are talking about.
We don’t use commas in defining relative clauses.

3. Defining relative clauses Relative pronouns
WHO/THAT
For people
WHICH/THAT
For things/animals
WHOSE
For possession
WHERE
For a place
WHEN
For a time
A relative pronoun can be the subject or object of a relative clause.
THE GIRL WHO LOVES ME LIVES IN THIS HOUSE.
(The girl loves me = subject)
THE GIRL (WHO ) I LOVE LEAVES IN THIS HOUSE .
(I love the girl = object) You can leave out the relative pronoun

4. Non-defining relative clauses
We use non-defining relative clauses to give extra information about something or somebody.
We use commas to separate non-defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence.
We DON’T use THAT in non-defining relative clauses. We can’t leave out the relative pronoun.

5. Defining relative clauses Non-defining relative clauses
I’m defining my sister. I have more sisters.
My sister who lives in New York never goes to clubs.
My sister, who lives in New York, never goes to clubs.
Extra information