where
that
Hover with your mouse over the words
Defining & non-defining, relative clauses and omission
who
which
INDEX
Examples
Defining
Non-defining
what was omitted?
omission & reduced
A defining relative clause defines a noun. It identifies who or what we are talking about. It is absolutely necessary in a sentence to know more about the thing or the person.
en español son las especificativas
That man is my uncle. He is wearing a blue shirt. The man who is wearing a blue shirt is my uncle.
A non-defining or non- essential clause gives extra information about something. They are separated, from the rest of the sentence, with commas.
* "that" is not used in this type of clause
en español son las explicativas
China is a huge country, it won 70 medals in the 2016 Olympics China, which is a huge country, won 70 medals in 2016 Olympics
defining
EXAMPLES
non-defining
Emma, who is my friend's wife, lent me the ladder
NON- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
My sister, who works in a hotel, got a promotion work
NON- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
The bag which is red is mine
defining relative clause
My friend who lives in Barcelona is named Sam
defining relative clause
The museum which we visited on holiday is very interesting
defining relative clause
The tv which is in the bedroom is a widescreen
defining relative clause
My smartphone, which is very cheap, is very good
Non-defining relative clause
Omission of relative pronoun We omit relative pronouns, or use that, only in informal speech, in order to communicate faster. We can omit the relative: 1) only in defining relative clauses 2) if the relative pronoun is followed by a noun or pronoun
This is the car that John bought at an auction
can be omitted
My new motorbike, which I paid a few thousand euros for, is not running well
can't be omitted
Omission & replacement of relative pronoun Who (people), which (things) and that (people and things) can be omitted if they do not function as the subject. Whose (possession) cannot be omitted or replaced. When (time) can be omitted or replaced by that. Where (places) cannot be replaced by that and it can only be omitted in a few cases, when it means stay or go.
She showed me the emeralds which she had brought back from South Africa
can be omitted and replaced
That's the woman whose house has been broken into
cannot be omitted nor replaced
Where is the letter that arrived this morning?
cannot be omitted
A doctor is a person who looks after people's health.
cannot be omitted
I’ll never forget the day when I met her.
can be omitted
This was the hotel where we stayed in for two weeks.
can be omitted
What was omitted?
The woman talking to my husband is from Ireland
"who is" was omitted
The student chosen as winner will get a prize
"that is" was omitted
The books on the shelf have been read
"which are" was omitted
The family living in the house are very rich
"who are" was omitted
The man interested in your car will telephone later
"who is" was omitted
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Transcript
where
that
Hover with your mouse over the words
Defining & non-defining, relative clauses and omission
who
which
INDEX
Examples
Defining
Non-defining
what was omitted?
omission & reduced
A defining relative clause defines a noun. It identifies who or what we are talking about. It is absolutely necessary in a sentence to know more about the thing or the person.
en español son las especificativas
That man is my uncle. He is wearing a blue shirt. The man who is wearing a blue shirt is my uncle.
A non-defining or non- essential clause gives extra information about something. They are separated, from the rest of the sentence, with commas.
* "that" is not used in this type of clause
en español son las explicativas
China is a huge country, it won 70 medals in the 2016 Olympics China, which is a huge country, won 70 medals in 2016 Olympics
defining
EXAMPLES
non-defining
Emma, who is my friend's wife, lent me the ladder
NON- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
My sister, who works in a hotel, got a promotion work
NON- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
The bag which is red is mine
defining relative clause
My friend who lives in Barcelona is named Sam
defining relative clause
The museum which we visited on holiday is very interesting
defining relative clause
The tv which is in the bedroom is a widescreen
defining relative clause
My smartphone, which is very cheap, is very good
Non-defining relative clause
Omission of relative pronoun We omit relative pronouns, or use that, only in informal speech, in order to communicate faster. We can omit the relative: 1) only in defining relative clauses 2) if the relative pronoun is followed by a noun or pronoun
This is the car that John bought at an auction
can be omitted
My new motorbike, which I paid a few thousand euros for, is not running well
can't be omitted
Omission & replacement of relative pronoun Who (people), which (things) and that (people and things) can be omitted if they do not function as the subject. Whose (possession) cannot be omitted or replaced. When (time) can be omitted or replaced by that. Where (places) cannot be replaced by that and it can only be omitted in a few cases, when it means stay or go.
She showed me the emeralds which she had brought back from South Africa
can be omitted and replaced
That's the woman whose house has been broken into
cannot be omitted nor replaced
Where is the letter that arrived this morning?
cannot be omitted
A doctor is a person who looks after people's health.
cannot be omitted
I’ll never forget the day when I met her.
can be omitted
This was the hotel where we stayed in for two weeks.
can be omitted
What was omitted?
The woman talking to my husband is from Ireland
"who is" was omitted
The student chosen as winner will get a prize
"that is" was omitted
The books on the shelf have been read
"which are" was omitted
The family living in the house are very rich
"who are" was omitted
The man interested in your car will telephone later
"who is" was omitted