Non-defining Relative Clauses

Flight number 1234, which has been cancelled, is mine

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

A non-defining relative clause adds a bit of information about the preceding noun, but this information is not essential to distinguish it from any other noun: Flight number 1234 to Madrid, which has been cancelled, is mine. If we omit the relative clause, the sentence conveys full sense: Flight number 1234 to Madrid is mine. The non-defining relative clause is always separated by commas.

Relative pronouns used in non-defining relative clauses

who

For people

which

For things

whose

Possessive

SUBJECT non-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

My neighbour John, who is very pessimistic, says there will be no apples this year.Peter, who had been driving all day, suggested stopping at the next town. The 8.15 train, which is usually very punctual, was late today.

OBJECT non-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

Mrs Jones, who I was working for, was a very generous person.Peter, who everyone suspected he was the murderer, turned out to be innocent. She gave me this jumper, which she had knitted herself.

Unlike in the defining relative clauses, the relative pronoun cannot be omitted.

POSSESSIVE DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

Ann, whose children are all good at tennis, is looking for a job as a tennis coach.His house, whose windows were all broken, was a depressing sight.

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