Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where copyright oxford university press. If the non defining relative clause were removed from the sentence, the sentence would still be grammatically correct and the meaning would not have changed, although we would have less detail. Johnson is happy, he got the highest grade on the test. 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. The river nile is egypts main source of water is a complete grammatical sentence. Nondefining relative clauses non defining clauses add extra information. In both restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses, the relative pronoun can act as the subject or object. Exercises with answers and grammar rules with examples. 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. They are not essential in the sentence and can be omitted without causing confusion. This webpage, whichthat has exercises below, was written in 2017. English grammar defining relative clauses esl activities. 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.
Non defining relative clauses they give extra information for an already defined noun. In defining clauses, we can omit the relative pronoun in the position of object. In the grammar chart below, you can see the main differences between them. In nondefining relative clauses we put a comma before and after the main clause. Relative clauses nondefining relative clauses grammar.
There are 3 different activities in which students are asked to complete the sentences with a relative pronoun, make one sentence from two to form defining and non defining relative clauses and make one sentence from two to form a participle clause. The ring that was stolen from my room hasnt been found yet. In contrast to relative clause defining where if the clause is omitted, the sentence will have less meaning. The river nile, which is over 6,500 kilometres long, is egypts main source of water. Defining and nondefining relative clauses worksheet. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets. A defining adjective clause clearly identifies its antecedent whereas a nondefining adjective clause merely gives some information. Non defining relative clauses are not used in spoken english. When there is a preposition in a relative clause, this usually goes at the end of the sentence.
Whothat for people the book which that i read is very interesting which that for things thats the university where i studied. 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. We also use commas to separate the clause from the rest of the sentence. Nondefining relative clauses give additional information about people, things or places. An adjective clause may be defining or nondefining. In nondefining sentences you neither omit the relative pronoun nor use that. A nondefining relative clause gives extra information about a noun that has already been identified. Defining vs nondefining there are two types of relative clauses, defining and nondefining. They are seperated by commas in writing, and by a pause on either side.
Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which types of relative clauses. It was my exgirlfriend, who was from venezuela, that sold my car. Non defining relative clauses exercises non defining relative clause is a type of clause that explains nouns or noun phrases. Mr brown, whom we studied english with, is a very nice. Relative pronouns relative pronouns are the words that introduce relative clauses. Free printable pdf grammar worksheets, quizzes and games, from a to z, for eflesl teachers. There are two types of relative clauses 1 defining 2 nondefining defining relative clauses specify a particular noun.
We could miss out the relative and the meaning would still be clear. Defining and nondefining relative clauses who, whom, whose, which, that. Relative clauses are used to state additional information about the noun in the sentence. 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. Before we can identify the differences between defining and non defining clauses, its helpful to understand what a relative clause actually is.
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. Heres a list of all the relative clause exercises on the site. Complete with the correct relative adverb why, where, when or pronoun who, which. Without this information, it would be difficult to know who or what is meant. A nondefining relative clause gives us extra information about something. Nondefining relative clauses english esl worksheets for distance. Defining and nondefinining relative clauses exercises pdf. Everybody likes dogs, which are called mans best friend. Mr brown, whom we studied english with, is a very nice teacher. We use relative clauses to combine two simple sentences with the same noun phrases. Use who, that the girl who is the best in our class is nayad. Diagonal 26, 1r 1a 0006 arcelona edifici indsor, entre ia augusta i rambla catalunya seu 1 via ugusta 6 s. Nonrestrictive relative clauses are also called nondefining relative clauses. Combine the sentences using nondefining relative pronouns.
Relative clauses and relative pronouns english grammar guide. Non defining relative clauses exercises with answers writer. The relative pronoun can be the subject or the object of the relative clause. Defining and non defining relative clauses non defining relative clauses. Nondefining relative clauses are not used in spoken english. Whats the difference between defining and nondefining. A clause of this kind is essential to clear understanding of the noun. A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes. See a list of all the exercises about relative clauses here. Thank you for your letter, which i was very happy to get. If the nondefining relative clause were removed from the sentence, the sentence would still be grammatically correct and the meaning would not have changed, although we would have less detail. Some exercises and teachers tips to practice the defining clauses and the nondefining clauses alike. But merely add something to it by giving some more information about it. We can use who to talk about people, which to talk about things and whose to refer to the person or thing that.
Non restrictive relative clauses are also called non defining relative clauses. Before we can identify the differences between defining and nondefining clauses, its helpful to understand what a relative clause actually is. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining relative. The information is essential in order to understand what or who is being referred to. May 05, 2012 an adjective clause may be defining or non defining. The boy who whom that you dont like much wants to talk to you. School of english defining and nondefining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals. Defining clauses restrictive clauses a defining relative clause tells which noun we are talking about. Defining and non defining relative clauses defining relative clauses introduce essential information to identify people, things or places. In writing, nondefining adjective clauses are always separated by commas. You may remove the relative pronoun and reduce your sentence in certain conditions.
Pdf defining and nondefining relative clauses nondefining. 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. In writing, non defining adjective clauses are always separated by commas. They can act as the subject or the object of the relative clause. Sentences with non defining relative clauses are grammatical even if you remove the non defining relative clause. Note that defining restrictive and non defining non restrictive clauses must be introduced by the appropriate relative pronoun who, which, that, whose.
C the woman who lives next door who lives next door tells us which. Relative clauses intermediate in this worksheet you will find an explanation on the difference between defining and non defining relative clauses plus a simple exercise to practise the relative pronouns. A defining adjective clause clearly identifies its antecedent whereas a non defining adjective clause merely gives some information. A relative clause tells us which person or thing or what kind of person or thing the speaker means. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise cattaneodallaglio. The pronoun cannot be left out because it is the subject of the relative clause. The computer that i used to write this is six years old. The information in a nondefining relative clause is extra information which isnt essential, so we can leave out the relative clause. We have a new feature to adapt to the new online teaching circumstances.
Remember that the defining clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Relative clauses defining and nondefining test english. Defining clauses are not separated from the rest of of the sentence by commas. There are 3 different activities in which students are asked to complete the sentences with a relative pronoun, make one sentence from two to form defining and nondefining relative clauses and make one sentence from two to form a participle clause. Nondefining worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about. Fernandez carmona, english grammar with exercises, longman, 2000. In a nondefining adjective clause an adjective clause with commas, the only relative pronouns you can use are who, whom, which, whose, where, and when. 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. London, which is the capital of england, is one of the largest cities in the world. School of english defining and non defining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals. Our students can practise relative clauses defining and non defining with this exercise. Defining clauses defining clauses specifydefine which personthinganimal is meant. Defining clauses restrictive clauses a defining restrictive clause is one that is.
Use relative pronouns only where necessary and remember to use commas with non defining sentences. In both restrictive and non restrictive relative clauses, the relative pronoun can act as the subject or object. Relative clauses in english exercises advanced level esl. Restrictive relative clauses are also called defining relative clauses. This is a 3page worksheet for teaching or revising relative clauses at intermediate level.
We use the relative pronouns who, which, whose, where and when in non. It does not identify the subject but rather provides extra information about it. Defining restrictive clauses should never be set off with commas and non defining non restrictive clauses always should. However, sometimes a relative clause is so important that the main sentence will be difficult to understand or have no meaning without it. Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which.
Defining relative clauses exercise 3 make one sentence by changing the sentence in italics into a defining relative clause. Use relative pronouns only where necessary and remember to use commas with nondefining sentences. We always use a relative pronoun or adverb to start a non defining relative clause. The pronoun can never be omitted in a nondefining relative clause.
The man who wants to talk to you is waiting for you. The woman who won the lottery this week lives in milano. As the name suggests, a ndrc is a clause that provides supplementary information not defining information. Non defining relative clauses exercises with answers.
Grammar quiz relative clauses complete these sixteen sentences to score your knowledge of relative clauses. 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. Complete the sentences with relative pronouns or relative adverbs. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise three things about nondefining relative clauses. 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 should be used after the noun they define. May 02, 20 restrictive relative clauses are also called defining relative clauses. The information in a defining relative clause is essential, so we cant leave out the relative clause. Nondefining relative clauses are placed after nouns which are definite already. Dec 19, 2009 practice on the defining and non defining relative clauses. We always use a relative pronoun or adverb to start a nondefining relative clause.
Defining and nondefining relative clauses intermediate. Should we use a defining relative clause or a nondefining relative clause. Sentences with nondefining relative clauses are grammatical even if you remove the nondefining relative clause. Free definingnondefining relative clauses worksheets. Relative clauses defining relative clauses grammar. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining. Our students can practise relative clauses defining and nondefining with this exercise. To understand the differences between that and which it is necessary to understand what defining restrictive and nondefining nonrestrictive clauses are. Relative pronouns and clauses in english grammar exercises. Free definingnon defining relative clauses worksheets. Nondefining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun, a verb, and optional other elements such as the subject or object of the verb.
Practice on the defining and nondefining relative clauses. Defining and nondefining relative clauses nondefining relative clauses. A relative clause is an added part in a sentence that is used in relation to the main sentence. Nondefining relative clauses english esl worksheets for. Non defining relative pronouns exercise three things about non defining relative clauses.