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Relative distributives(non-defining relative clauses) clauses provide additional information about the noun they refer to. However, the information provided in the subordinate clause is additional and optional.
Unlike defining relative clauses, which cannot be removed from a sentence without losing meaning, extending relative clauses can be omitted, the main idea will be preserved and understandable, and the structure of the sentence will not be affected. They are introduced by relative pronouns.
Education and punctuation
Extensive subordinate clauses are introduced using relative pronouns which, who, that and in writing in English they are always separated by commas. They can appear either in the middle after the qualifying noun or at the end of a sentence, but never at the beginning.
Important!
Extensive subordinate clauses on both sides are highlighted with commas, and in speech they are distinguished by intonation. Sometimes, in writing, you can find parentheses instead of commas.
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Example sentences
His wife, who works at as a teacher at a local school, speaks French and Italian. His wife, who works at a local school, speaks French and Italian. The company, which sells sports equipment, will move to new office in London. A company that sells sports equipment is moving to new offices in London. Melanie told me about her new job, which she is enjoying a lot. Melanie told me about her new job, which she really likes.
Relative pronouns who and which
Important!
Which and who can act as subject and object in a subordinate clause. As an addition, the pronoun who can be replaced with whom.
Example sentences
The sun, which is an enormous star, provides the Earth and people with the necessary heat and light (subject). The sun, which is a huge star, provides the planet Earth and people with the necessary heat and light. The severe thunderstorms, which nobody had forecast, caused floods in several cities (object). Severe thunderstorms that no one predicted caused flooding in many cities.
Notice that after the words all, both, many, neither, some, first, last, as well as numerals and adjectives in the superlative degree, pronouns must be used in combination with a preposition: of which or of whom.
Sample Sentences
The newspaper has millions of readers, many of whom made donations. The publication has millions of readers, many of whom have donated. There are a number of radio stations in Chicago, the most popular of which is probably the Newsradio. Chicago has many radio stations, the most popular of which is perhaps news radio.
Example sentences
The building, where I used to live, can be demolished. The building where I used to live may be demolished. Friday, when I had a day off, was the last day when I saw Jim. On Friday, when I had the day off, I saw Jim for the last time. In the summer, when the tourists are here, there are a lot of jobs in bars and restaurants. In the summer, when there are many tourists here, there is a lot of work in bars and restaurants.
Example sentences
Van Gough, whose paintings now sell for millions, hardly managed to sell any during his lifetime. Van Gogh, whose paintings sell for millions, could hardly sell even one in his lifetime. People, whose luggage was lost, had to fill in all the form. People whose luggage was lost were forced to fill out all the paperwork.
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The use of prepositions in non-defining clauses
Prepositions are usually used at the end of a relative clause, and in a formal style before a relative pronoun.
Example sentences
The editor, who the journalist wrote to, thought it was a great article (informal). The editor to whom the journalist wrote thought the article was wonderful. They did not mention that case, for which we were grateful (formal). They didn't mention that incident, for which we were very grateful.
Watch the video on non-defining clauses:
[ Preliminary note.
In Russian, we are accustomed to the fact that a comma is always placed before the word “which”. But in English it is generally not used. It all depends on materiality information coming after the word “which”: can or cannot it be thrown away without losing the meaning of the sentence?
In a sentence " The house that Jack built is large - House, which Jack built, big"subordinate clause" which Jack built" cannot be thrown away, since “The Big House” will remain - that is, there has been a loss of essential information. One can even say that there has been a loss of part of the “verbose” subject The house that Jack built. In such sentences, there is no comma before “which” in English.
But in the sentence " My father, who is 78, swims every day - My father, who is 78 years old, swims every day" subordinate clause " who is 78 years old" can be deleted: it will turn out to be "My father swims every day" - that is, the meaning is preserved, we just removed the unimportant "remark in parentheses." The British and Americans separate such subordinate clauses with commas.
In order to grammatically formulate what has been said, in English grammar there are two types: Relative Clauses () - Restrictive And Nonrestrictive. There is no such thing in Russian.
Restrictive Clause- determinative individualizing subordinate clause, it defines, conveys individual a sign of a person or thing (persons or things), that is, a sign attributed only to a given person or thing and distinguishing it from all other persons or things of the same class.
Example: The house that Jack built is large.
Nonrestrictive Clause- determinative descriptive subordinate clause, used to report about persons or objects additional information(rather than telling us what person or thing we are talking about). Thus, descriptive attributive clauses do not carry significant information and can be removed from the sentence without damaging the meaning
Example: My father, who is 78, swims every day.
If all this terminology seems tedious to you, remember a simple rule of punctuation: "before the word that there is never a comma" and consider that you have understood the article by 60%. ]
The most common relative pronouns in English are who/whom, whoever/whomever, whose, that And which. (Note that in some situations what, when, where can also act as relative pronouns.)
Complex sentences begin with relative pronouns relative clauses, which individualize or clarify a single word, expression, or idea of the main clause. The word (expression) being explained is called antecedent(= antecedent). In the following examples that And whom explain subject main sentence:
The house that Jack built is large.
House, which built by Jack, big one.
The professor, whom I respect, recently received tenure.
Professor, whom I respect, I recently received a permanent position (at the department).
Which relative pronoun to use depends on the type of attributive clause. In general, there are two types of attributive clauses: individualizing (restrictive (defining) clause - restrictive, it narrows the definition of the word being explained) and descriptive (non-restrictive (non-defining) clause - non-restrictive, does not narrow the definition). In both of these types, the relative pronoun can act as a subject, object, or possessive pronoun ("whose").
Relative Pronouns in Restrictive Relative Clauses
Relative pronouns, standing at the beginning of individualizing attributive clauses, not separated by commas. Individualizing subordinate clauses (restrictive relative clauses, otherwise called " defining the word" - defining relative clauses) add essential information about the word being defined. Without this information, it is impossible to correctly understand the meaning of the sentence - that’s why such subordinate clauses cannot be eliminated from a complex sentence without loss of meaning.
The table below shows which relative pronouns should be used in individualizing in attributive clauses after various antecedents (= the words they explain):
Examples
The relative pronoun is the subject of an individuating clause(that's why commas are not separated!) ( Relative pronouns used as a subject of a restrictive relative clause):
This is the house that had a great Christmas decoration.
Here's the house which colorfully dressed up for Christmas.
It took me a while to get used to people who eat popcorn during the movie.
It took me a while to get used to people which eating popcorn during cinema sessions.
The relative pronoun is an object in an individuating clause (Relative pronouns used as an object in a restrictive relative clause):
1) As can be seen from the table, if we are talking about a person or thing, the relative pronoun acting as an object can be omitted(marked *). But in non-spoken (official) languages it is not omitted. When a relative pronoun is used with a preposition, then instead that use which, for example, "in which", "for which", "about which", "through which" and so on (see last example).
Formal English: This is the man to whom I wanted to speak and whose name I had forgotten.
Official language: This is the man which I wanted to talk and I forgot whose name.
Informal English: This is the man I wanted to speak to and whose name I"d forgotten.
Colloquial: This is the person I wanted to talk to and whose name I forgot.
Formal English: The library did not have the book that I wanted.
Official language: There was no book in the library that I needed.
Informal English: The library didn't have the book I wanted.
Colloquial: The library didn't have the book I needed.
Formal English: This is the house where/in which I lived when I first came to the United States.
Official language: Here's the house where/in which I lived when I first came to the US.
Informal English: This is the house I lived in when I first came to the United States.
Colloquial: I lived in this house when I first arrived in the USA.
2) In American English the word whom (whom) rarely used. "Whom" sounds more formal than "who", and is often omitted completely in speech:
Grammatically Correct: The woman to whom you have just spoken is my teacher.
Grammatically correct: Woman, with which you just said - my teacher
Conversational Use: The woman you have just spoken to is my teacher.
OR OR
The woman who you have just spoken to is my teacher.
Colloquial: The woman you just spoke to is my teacher.
However, “whom” cannot be omitted if it is preceded by a preposition, since the relative pronoun “whom” explains precisely this preposition (it is an addition to it in the sentence):
The visitor for whom you were waiting has arrived.
Visitor, whom you expected has arrived.
Relative pronouns for the possessive case in an individuating clause (Relative pronouns used as a possessive in a restrictive relative clause):
Whose- the only relative possessive pronoun (possessive relative pronoun) in the English language. It can refer to both people and things:
The family whose house burnt in the fire was immediately given a complimentary suite in a hotel.
Family, whose the house burned down, they immediately provided us with a hotel room.
The book whose author won a Pulitzer has become a bestseller.
Book, author which (= whose author) received a Pulitzer Prize and became a bestseller.
Relative Pronouns in Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses
Despite the similarity with individuating subordinate clauses, descriptive subordinate clauses (in most cases) separated by a comma from the main sentence. As an indicator of the descriptive nature of the subordinate clause, it is preferable to use the pronoun which (which). Descriptive subordinate clauses (non-restrictive relative clauses, also known as non-defining relative clauses- do not carry the function of individualization, specification of meaning) provide only additional, unimportant information about the word being defined from the main sentence. This information is not necessary for a correct understanding of the meaning of the entire sentence and therefore can be excluded from it without damaging the meaning.
Examples
Relative pronouns as subjects in descriptive subordinate clauses (Relative pronouns used as a subject of a non-restrictive relative clause):
The science fair, which lasted all day, ended with an awards ceremony.
Fair of students' scientific projects, which lasted all day and ended with an awards ceremony.
The movie turned out to be a blockbuster hit, which came as a surprise to critics.
This movie turned out to be a blockbuster (a bestseller), What came as a surprise to critics.
Relative pronouns as objects in descriptive subordinate clauses (Relative pronouns used as an object in a non-restrictive relative clause):
The sculpture, which he admired, was moved into the basement of the museum to make room for a new exhibit.
sculpture, which He loved it very much and was moved to the museum's basement to make room for a new exhibit.
The theater, in which the play debuted, housed 300 people.
The theater in which this play was first staged seats 300 spectators.
When to use the relative pronoun "that" and when to use "who" and "which" ("That" vs. "Who" and "Which")
Relative pronoun that can be used only in individualizing subordinate clauses. In spoken English, when talking about people, it can be replaced by who, and if about things - then on which. Although that often used in spoken language, in official written language they still look more familiar who And which.
Conversational, Informal: William Kellogg was the man that
Colloquial: lived at the end of the 19th century and had very strange ideas about raising children.
Written, Formal: William Kellogg was the man who lived in the late 19th century and had some weird ideas about raising children.
William Kellogg is a man which (who) lived at the end of the 19th century and had very strange ideas about raising children.
Conversational, Informal: The cafe that sells the best coffee in town has recently been closed.
Colloquial: Cafe, in which
Written, Formal: The café, which sells the best coffee in town, has recently been closed.
Written, official language: Cafe, in which sold the best coffee in the city, recently closed.
Some Special Uses of Relative Pronouns in Restrictive Clauses
that/who
In colloquial language, in relation to people it can be used as that, so who. "That" can be used to refer to the characteristics or abilities of an individual or group of people:
He is the kind of person that/who will never let you down.
He's the kind of person which (who) will never let you down.
I am looking for someone that/who could give me a ride to Chicago.
I'm looking for a man which (who) could take me to Chicago.
However, in official language, in relation to a specific person, it is preferable to use who:
The old lady who lives next door is a teacher.
old lady, which lives nearby - a teacher.
The girl who wore a red dress attracted everyone's attention at the party.
Young woman, on which There was a red dress that attracted everyone's attention at the party.
that / which
In some cases that fits better than which:
1) After the pronouns "all", "any(thing)", "every(thing)", "few", "little", "many", "much", "no(thing)", "none", " some(thing)":
The police usually ask for every detail that helps identify the missing person.
Usually the police ask about each detail, which can help find a missing person.
Dessert is all that he wants.
She doesn't want to eat anything except sweets (dessert).
2) After a noun preceded by a superlative degree adjective:
This is the best resource that I have ever read!
This is the best resource which I got to read it!
Subordinate clauses that can perform these noun functions are of three types.
The first type of such subordinate clauses is connected to the main clause using the conjunction that. Such proposals are called that-clauses (That-clauses).
The second type of such sentences is connected to the main one using conjunction words who, what, which, where, when, why And how. Such proposals are called wh-clauses(Wh-clauses).
And, in addition, subordinate clauses can be connected to the main one using if/whether conjunctions in indirect matters.
1. THAT clauses .
That-clauses can perform exactly four functions of nouns/pronouns.
1. Subject.
Jack was too young Jack was too young.
That the driver could not control his car it was obvious that the driver had lost control of the car.
(However, such sentences sound very literary and in colloquial speech the second formal subject it is usually introduced: It was obvious (that) the driver could not control his car.)
2. Addition.
Everyone could see Jack everyone could see Jack.
Everyone could see that he was frightened everyone could see that he was scared.
(in such sentences that may be omitted – everyone could see he was frightened).
3. Complement.
This is Jack This is Jack.
The truth is that he was very shy the fact is that he was very shy.
(in such sentences that can also be omitted – the truth is he was very shy)
4. Application.
We met my friend Jack we met my friend Jack.
We must face the fact that we have spent all our money we must realize the fact that we have spent all our money.
The hard truth that they had spent all their money, was a great shock to her, the bitter truth that they had spent everyone’s money was a great shock to her.
In this case, that-clauses are applications, not definitions, since it is a fact or truth that they spent the money.
In the first sentence, the subordinate clause is restrictive (that is, it cannot be omitted without violating the grammatical structure of the sentence) and is not set off by commas, but in the second sentence it is non-restrictive (if it is removed, the sentence will remain grammatically correct) and is set off by commas.
A type of that-clause is indirect speech.
2.WH-clauses
To connect subordinate WH clauses with the main clause, three interrogative pronouns are used: what, who, which, as well as four interrogative adverbs where, when, why, how (if you look closely at the word how, you can see that there are also letters w and h )
WH clauses, like THAT clauses, can be subject, object, and complement, but unlike THAT clauses, they cannot act as a clause.
1. Subject.
It is a complete mystery
What caused the accident is a complete mystery what caused the accident is a complete mystery.
2. Addition.
No one knows it no one knows this.
No one knows what caused the accident no one knows what caused the accident.
3. Complement.
It is a question of taste it's a matter of taste.
The question is what caused the accident the question is what caused the accident.
4. In addition, WH-clauses can be part of a prepositional phrase:
We depend on it we depend on it.
It depends on what do you really mean it depends on what you actually meant.
5. Also, WH-sentences are often used as so-called indirect questions:
That man caused the accident
DIRECT QUESTION: Who caused the accident? who is to blame for the accident?
INDIRECT QUESTION: Tell me who caused the accident, tell me who is to blame for the accident.
Mr. Smith will return on Monday Mr. Smith returns on Monday.
DIRECT QUESTION: When will Mr. Smith return? When is Mr. Smith coming back?
INDIRECT QUESTION: Tell me when Mr. Smith will return tell me when Mr. Smith returns.
5. Indirect questions with if/whether
Subordinate clauses can also be introduced using if/whether conjunctions if the question requires yes or no answers:
I wonder if/whether you’ve met him
Please tell me whether or not you agree please tell me whether you agree or not.
Such proposals could be:
1. Subject:
Whether we can help you is a difficult question: whether we can help you is a difficult question.
2. addition:
Whether we can really help you, I don’t know yet if we can help you.
3. Part of a prepositional phrase:
It depends on whether we have enough money it depends on whether we have enough money.
Sooner or later, everyone who studies English is faced with the concept Relative Clause. This mysterious name hides subordinate attributive clauses (parts of complex sentences). In other words, in a complex sentence the subordinate (dependent) part is Relative Clause– reveals the main information in detail and provides clarifying information.
Let us give examples of the formation of one phrase with Relative Clause of two simple, fairly brief and related sentences:
A train goes to Manchester. It leaves from platform 3. – The train goes to Manchester. It departs from platform 3.
The train which goes to Manchester leaves from platform 3. – Train, which goes to Manchester, departs from platform 3.
A lady teaches us German. She lives next door. – The lady teaches us German. She lives next door.
The lady who teaches us German lives next door. - Lady, which teaches us German, lives next door.
I saw a film yesterday. It was fantastic. – Yesterday I watched a film. He turned out to be amazing.
The film that I saw yesterday was fantastic. - Movie, which I watched it yesterday and it was amazing.
As we see, the integral components Relative Clause are, first of all, words which, who And that. They all correspond to the Russian word “which”. However, besides them Relative Clause can be entered in words whose(whose, whose) whom(to whom, with whom), where(where, in which), when(when, in which) why(why, by whom):
The guy whose laptop was stolen called the police. - Boy, which one My laptop was stolen and I called the police.
Every summer John goes to the town where his parents were born. – Every summer John goes to the city, Where (in which) his parents were born.
There were 2 reasons why she mentioned it. – There were 2 reasons, according to which she mentioned it.
Also note that the indefinite article a before nouns train, lady, film in a sentence with Relative Clause is replaced by the, since the subordinate clause completes the specified nouns, making them specific.
By the way, about the difference between which, who And that(and this question will probably interest you) we advise you to read in. You can also learn more about her by watching Rebecca's video.
Types of Relative Clause in English
Getting to know Relative Clause in textbooks by foreign authors, you will certainly notice that this phenomenon, as a rule, is supplemented by the numbers 1 and 2. What do they mean? Let's figure it out.
Under the number 1 lies the so-called Defining(or Identifying– restrictive) Relative Clause, representing important and significant information for the statement. It should be remembered that such a subordinate clause in English, unlike in Russian, is not separated by commas:
Richard is the man who married my cousin Janet. “Richard is the man who married my cousin Janet.
That’s the cat that I saw in my garden - This is the same cat that I saw in my garden.
The number 2 means Non-Defining(or Non-Identifying– distributive) Relative Clause, introducing additional, clarifying information that is not always important for the statement. Therefore, in this case, the subordinate clause is separated by commas:
The girl from my college, who I have never spoken to before, asked me for help today. – A girl from my college, whom I had never talked to before, asked me for help today.
That red car, which is in my garage now, was bought by my sister. – That red car that is now in my garage was bought by my sister.
Learn more about placing commas in complex sentences, including examples with Relative Clause, you can find out in .
It is worth noting that in some sentences the conjunction that is the beginning Relative Clause, may be skipped. To see if we can omit which, who or that, you must first determine what the subordinate clause agrees with: the subject or the object.
Let's look at 2 examples:
The young man who lives upstairs is very friendly. – The young man who lives above us (on the floor above) is very friendly.
The young man ( who) you met yesterday lives upstairs. – The young man you met yesterday lives above us (on the floor above).
In the first case we are dealing with Subject Relative Clause, in which the subject of the subordinate clause coincides with the subject of the main clause ( the man). In such a sentence, the presence of a conjunction (in this case - who) Necessarily.
In the second case, the main and subordinate clauses have different subjects:
The young man lives upstairs.
You met him(addition) yesterday.
An adjective clause of this type is called Object Relative Clause and does not require the mandatory presence of relative pronouns which, who or that.
To better consolidate the above material, we give other examples of sentences with the presence and absence of relative pronouns:
- Subject Relative Clause:
The doctor told him not to worry. A doctor treated him. = The doctor who treated him who treated him, told him not to worry.
- Object Relative Clause:
The doctor told him not to worry. He talked to a doctor. = The doctor he talked to told him not to worry. - Doctor, with whom he spoke, asked him not to worry.
Please note that prepositions in subordinate clauses Object Relative Clause often placed after relative pronouns which, who or that and verbs (both with and without objects):
It's the movie I told you about. - This is the film I told you about.
This is the book she has been looking for. “This is the very book she was looking for.”
To help you master the topic better, we have prepared a short test.
Test
Relative Clause in English: types and rules of use
Determinative and non-defining relative clauses: There are two types of relative clauses – identifying relative clauses And non— identifying relative clauses.
Meaning
Identifying relative clause
Identifying relative clause tells us the information necessary to determine the subject in question. This is the only information we have about this subject. This subordinate clause is not separated by commas.
Non-identifying relative clause
Non— identifying relative clause gives us additional information. In other words, we already know what subject we are talking about. This subordinate clause is separated by commas.
Identifying relative clauses
Identifying relative clauses are introduced into a sentence using the following conjunctions: who/ thatfor animate objects
Whom
If we are dealing with complement then we can also usewhom(objective case form):
Who
However, this usage is almost never found in spoken English. Instead, we use “who” with the corresponding preposition:
Which andthat
Which/ thatfor inanimate objects
As a supplement
If the pronoun (“that”, “who”, “which”) is an object in a sentence, it can be omitted.
N.B.
Whose, where, when And (the reason) why
whose, where, when And (the reason) why:
| For example: | Is there another time when I can call you? | Can I call at another time (is there another time when I can call you)? |
| Can you tell me where I can buy wrapping paper? | Can you tell me where I can buy wrapping paper? | |
| Have you seen the TV show whose catchphrase is “Deal no deal?” | Have you watched a TV show whose slogan is “Deal no deal”? | |
| I wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you. This is the reason why I came to you | I wanted to talk to you frankly. Here reason for which I came |
We cannot omit whose in the sentence, but in the case of the rest it is possible:
Where
Where can be omitted if there is an excuse
When And why
When And why can be replaced by that or omit:
who, whom And which
Non-identifying relative clauses are introduced into a sentence using who, whom And which. They cannot be replaced by that, nor omit:
| For example: | My students, who are all adults , are learning English to get a more prestigious job | My students all of whom are adults |
| My students, many of whom are from Europe, are learning English to get a more prestigious job | My students many of whom are from Europe, learn English to find a more prestigious job | |
| The textbooks, which the students like, have lots of helpful examples | These textbooks which students like, contain many useful examples |
whose, where, when
In addition to the above conjunctions, we also use whose, where, when, which in this case also cannot be omitted:
Comparison of two types of relative clauses
The meaning of the sentence changes depending on which subordinate clause you use in its composition. Compare the following examples.