Exercises with answers and grammar rules with examples. This example contains information about the noun the modern olympic games the are called nondefining or nonidentifying relative clauses to avoid confusion with defining relative clauses. But merely add something to it by giving some more information about it. We use those to give extra information, which isnt absolutely necessary. A clause of this kind is essential to the clear understanding of the noun. A restrictive clause or phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence. In nondefining sentences you neither omit the relative pronoun nor use that. There are defining and non defining relative sentences. Worksheets are relative clauses work, 1 of 4 participle phrases as reduced relative clauses, relative clauses work 1, relative clauses, relative clauses part i defining non defining, more practice reducing adverb clauses answer key, extra practice reductions, grammar relative clauses work answer key when.
Nondefining clauses nonrestrictive clauses we use nondefining relative clauses to give extra information about the person or thing. The italicized words are effectively an aside and could be deleted. A clause of this kind is essential to clear understanding of the noun. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining. Relative clauses nondefining relative clauses grammar. English esl defining relative clauses worksheets most. The clause, who are honest, clearly identifies or describes the servants, and, therefore, it is an adjective clause. The apple which george lay on the table was put back into the basket. You can tell that a clause is nondefining because it is separated by commas at each end of the clause.
Relative clauses that give additional information are called defining. Heres a list of all the relative clause exercises on the site. Differences defining and nondefining relative clauses. 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. Relative clauses add extra information to a sentence by defining a noun. Buckingham palace, the queen of england lives, is in the. 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. School of english defining and non defining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals. Defining and non defining relative clauses non defining relative clauses. Commas or parentheses are always used to separate nondefining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence. 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. Our friends who we met at university are coming to visit next week. Defining and nondefining clauses are both types of relative clauses clauses that share some extra information about something. Non defining relative pronouns exercise three things about non defining relative clauses.
Displaying all worksheets related to reduced relative clauses. Defining and nondefining relative clauses nondefining relative clauses. Nondefining relative clauses english esl worksheets for distance. English grammar nondefining relative clauses esl activities. Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which. Amelia, mother is from shanghai, speaks english and chinese fluently. Nondefining relative clauses are not used in spoken english.
Non defining clauses non restrictive clauses a non. Advanced choose the correct response to complete each relative clauses. Non defining relative clauses are not used in spoken english. The most important unit of grammatical organization in linguistics is the sentence. I am looking at a woman she is looking at the water. Non defining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun, a verb, and optional other elements such as the subject or object of the verb. Complete the sentences with relative pronouns or relative adverbs. Removing a restrictive element from a sentence changes its meaning dramatically. Differences defining and non defining relative clauses. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets. In defining clauses, we can omit the relative pronoun in the position of object. Such clauses introduced by relative pronouns are called restrictive or defining relative clauses. Diagonal 26, 1r 1a 0006 arcelona edifici indsor, entre ia augusta i rambla catalunya seu 1 via ugusta 6 s.
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. Defining clauses or phrases are not separated off with commas. Reduced relative clauses worksheets lesson worksheets. The house, which was built in 1883, has just been opened to the public. Live worksheets english english as a second language esl relative clauses defining vs non defining relative clause defining vs non defining relative clause exercise to practice relative clauses. There are two types of relative clauses 1 defining 2 nondefining defining relative clauses specify a particular noun. The punctuation is different for defining and nondefining clauses. That something or someone is the object of the preposition at. Comma usage in defining restrictive and nondefining nonrestrictive adjective clauses. We cant drop the relative pronoun in this kind of clause, even if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. Defining and nondefining relative clauses practice bachillerato 2 1 defining relative clauses 1 join these sentences using a relative clause. In the grammar chart below, you can see the main differences between them.
We dont use that in non defining relative clauses, so we need to use which if the pronoun refers to a thing, and who if it refers to a person. Thank you for your letter, which i was very happy to get. 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. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise three things about nondefining relative clauses. It is not essential information to understand the sentence. Whats the difference between defining and nondefining. Relative pronouns relative pronouns are the words that introduce relative clauses.
It can be used in a defining relative clause to define the noun it supports. Esl english relative clauses quiz 5 mixed relative. But apart from that the two types of clauses are a little different. This smartphone, i bought last week, takes great photos. Defining and non defining relative clauses 2 pages worksheet with grammar guide 21,642 downloads. The car which was a rare sports coupe was built in 1966. Some exercises and teachers tips to practice the defining clauses and the nondefining clauses alike. We dont need a relative pronoun, because the first word in the relative clause. The punctuation is different for defining and non defining clauses. Nondefining relative clauses are more often used in written english than in spoken english. It isnt essential for understanding who or what we are talking about.
Before we can identify the differences between defining and nondefining clauses, its helpful to. Relative clausesrelative pronouns mixed relative pronouns 1 level. Commas or parentheses are always used to separate non defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence. May 02, 2019 relative clauses the most important unit of grammatical organization in linguistics is the sentence. Relative clauses defining and nondefining test english.
Defining vs nondefining there are two types of relative clauses, defining and nondefining. Combine the sentences using nondefining relative pronouns. We invited the boy who tom had met the week before the party. Exercise school of english defining and nondefining relative. Exercise 4 relative pronouns exercise 5 relative adverbs defining nondefining exercise 1relative clauses defining or nondefining. We use commas to separate them from the rest of the sentence, unless they come at the end of the sentence, when we use a comma and a full stop. Relative clauses intermediate in this worksheet you will find an explanation on the difference between defining and. Dec 03, 2015 defining and nondefining clauses are both types of relative clauses clauses that share some extra information about something. English esl nondefining relative clauses worksheets. Fernandez carmona, english grammar with exercises, longman, 2000. This example contains information about the noun the modern olympic games the are called non defining or non identifying relative clauses to avoid confusion with defining relative clauses. Relative clauses are always in the middle of a sentence. Nondefining relative clauses give additional information about people, things or places.
The following esl efl resources are available for nondefining relative clauses grammar. The difference between defining and non defining relative clauses is important to understand if you want to use relative clauses correctly. If i want to turn these sentences into adjective clauses, i must keep the preposition the woman at whom i am looking is sitting near the ocean the water at which she is looking is blue. We can use exactly the same relative pronouns in defining and non defining relative clauses. English grammar defining relative clauses esl activities. The pronoun cannot be left out because it is the subject of the relative clause. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise autoenglish. Here we need the relative pronoun which, because it is a nondefining relative clause and the first word after the pronoun is a verb. They are not essential in the sentence and can be omitted without causing confusion.
Photocopy pdf from the oxford advanced english file. Object pronouns can be dropped in defining relative clauses, which are then called contact clauses. Nondefining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun, a verb, and optional other elements such as the subject or object of the verb. We dont use that in nondefining relative clauses but only who for people, which for things, whose possession, and where places. The pronoun can never be omitted in a nondefining relative clause. Relative clauses learnenglish teens british council. Defining and nondefinining relative clauses exercises pdf.
Dublin, is the capital of ireland, is my favourite city. We use relative clauses to combine two simple sentences with the same noun phrases. The real point of the sentence is that the house needs painting. Lets focus on the verb look at we look at something or someone. London, which is the capital of england, is one of the largest cities in the world. Defining and nondefining relative clauses who, whom, whose, which, that. They can act as the subject or the object of the relative clause. 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.
Non defining clauses non restrictive clauses a non defining non restrictive clause is one that can be regarded as parenthetical. The modern olympic games, which take place every four years, were first held in 1896. Pdf defining and nondefining relative clauses nondefining. Bbc learning english quiznet nondefining relative clauses. The award was given to sara, whose short story impressed the judges. Use who, that the girl who is the best in our class is nayad. We can use exactly the same relative pronouns in defining and nondefining relative clauses. If it is possible to omit the relative pronoun, write it in brackets.
Paul, who started singing at 15, is now very famous. If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb but by a noun or pronoun, the relative pronoun is an object pronoun. Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where. Our students can practise relative clauses defining and nondefining with this exercise. School of english defining and nondefining relative clauses exercise school of english oficines centrals. The boy who whom that you dont like much wants to talk to you. Sep 01, 2016 while the relative pronoun can change or be deleted, and while the position of the preposition at can change, i must always keep the preposition at. Nondefining relative clauses are placed after nouns which are definite already. We dont need a relative pronoun, because the first word in the relative clause is not a verb. Nondefining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something.
The ring that was stolen from my room hasnt been found yet. Defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way as to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. Defining vs non defining relative clause interactive. Relative pronounsadverbs defining and non defining relative clauses. Non defining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something. We dont use that in nondefining relative clauses, so we need to use which if the pronoun refers to a thing, and who if it refers to a person. Should we use a defining relative clause or a nondefining relative clause. Second in importance is the clause and the best way to think about clauses is as part of a sentence.