Lesson 31

Grammar practice. Non-defining relative clauses

The information in these clauses is not essential. It tells us more about someone or something, but it does not help us to identify them or it.

Compare:

1. Elephants that love mice are very unusual. (This tells us which elephants we are talking about.)

2. Elephants, which are large and grey, can sometimes be found in zoos. (This gives us some extra information about elephants — we are talking about all elephants, not just one type or group.)

3. John’s mother, who lives in Scotland, has 6 grandchildren. (We know who John’s mother is, and he only has one. The important information is the number of grandchildren, but the fact that she lives in Scotland might be followed with the words "by the way” — it is additional information.)

Punctuation

Non-defining relative clauses are always separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. The commas have a similar function to brackets:

My friend John has just written a best-selling novel. (He went to the same school as me) > My friend John, who went to the same school as me, has just written a best-selling novel.

Relative pronouns in non-defining clauses

Notes

1. In non-defining clauses, you cannot use ‘that’ instead of who, whom or which.

2. You cannot leave out the relative pronoun, even when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause:

He gave me the letter, which was in a blue envelope.

He gave me the letter, which I read immediately

3. The preposition in these clauses can go at the end of the clause,

e.g. This is Stratford-on-Avon, which you have all heard about.

This pattern is often used in spoken English, but in written or formal English you can also put the preposition before the pronoun:

e. g. Stratford-on-Avon, about which many people have written is Shakespeare’s birthplace.

4. Non-defining clauses can be introduced by expressions like all of, many of + relative pronoun:

Complete the following sentences using a relative pronoun and then decide whether

a) commas are required or not

b) that can be used instead of the word you have chosen

c) the word can be omitted

1) They wanted to show me the new car __ they had bought in Germany.

2) The man __ you were speaking to earlier is Mike __ is an expert on networks.

3) The pupils __ sang in the concert gave a wonderful performance __ was praised by their music teacher.

4) My aunt __ visited me last week has a house in France __ she goes every summer.

5) Susan said something __ I couldn’t hear clearly.

6) He showed me all the different colourful rocks __ he had collected at the beach.

7) The Master’s course __ I took in 1999 is no longer taught at Oxford University.

8) The singer __ was recovering from flu had to cancel her other concerts for the week.

9) The minister talked about the plans for tax reform __ he will reveal next month.

10) The doctor __ Ingrid went to see was very thorough and helpful.

11 ) The couple __ live next to us have sixteen grandchildren.

12) The problems faced by the company __ I’ll look at in detail in a moment are being resolved.

13) Let’s go through the main improving points __ he made in his lecture.

14) Julia’s father __ is over 75 has just come back from a skiing holiday in the Alps.

15) The most interesting film __ I’ve seen in a long time is the one about the artist __ went to live in Spain.

16) Our local MP promised to do everything __ he could to help those __ houses had been damaged.

17) This is a film __ will be very popular with teenagers __ enjoy rock music.

18) Martin __ had been having lessons for months took his test when he was offered a job __ required a driving license.

19) The first time __ I visited Spain I went to a village __ there had been a famous battle.

20) Danielle __ father is Italian has bought a holiday cottage in the village __ her grandfather lived.

21) Isabelle __ Peter was engaged to applied for a job __ would entail her moving to Holland __ the new company was based.

Join the following sentences using relative clauses. Indicate whether relatives can be omitted by placing them in brackets. There may be more than one way to join the sentences. Add commas where necessary.

1) Steve and Lynn are Americans. They own the little restaurant on Bridge Street.

2) Property prices are rising throughout Europe. This means many young couples cannot afford to buy their own home.

3) Dr. Rowan has had to do all his own typing. His secretary resigned two weeks ago.

4) She was greatly influenced by her father. She adored him.

5) Pam read a novel. The main character in it was shipwrecked on a desert island.

6) I gave Mark a paperweight as a birthday present. He is a writer.

7) Harry is an engineer. His wife has just given birth to twins.

8) Jenny has no brothers or sisters. Her parents spoilt her when she was a child.

9) These drugs have been withdrawn from sale. They are used to treat stomach ulcers.

10) Children do better in examinations. Their diets contain high levels of protein.

11 ) Some teachers want a pay rise. They may organize a strike.

12) Alex has just married a teacher. She lectures in Politics.

Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where.

1) Tom, __ sister is a teacher, is in my class.

2) The White House, __ the US president lives, is in Washington.

3) My brother, __ works in Warsaw, earns a lot of money.

4) Venice, __ is in Italy, is a very old city.

5) The Ritz Hotel, __ we stayed last year, is very expensive.

6) John Lennon, __ was born in 1940, was a member of The Beatles.

7) My car, __ I bought last month, broke down again.

8) Molly, __ father is from Paris, speaks French very well.

Paying attention to grammatically correct usage, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with who, whom or whose. For example:

The person __ owns the bookstore is my friend.

The person who owns the bookstore is my friend.

The singer to __ we gave the bouquet will be performing again tonight.

The singer to whom we gave the bouquet will be performing again tonight.

The contestants __ names were announced should prepare to start.

The contestants whose names were announced should prepare to start.

1) My best friend, __ I see every day, always has something new to tell me.

2) Most students __ live in residence find it easy to make friends.

3) Our neighbors, to __ we lent our lawnmower, are conscientious and considerate.

4) The volunteers, __ enthusiasm was obvious, finished the work quickly.

5) The musicians __ we heard yesterday have played together for many years.

6) Parents __ children do well in school usually consider themselves fortunate.

7) Children __ like music are often good at mathematics.

8) The student to __ the prize was awarded had an impressive record.

9) My friend, __ I visited last week, is taking a holiday soon.

10) The class treasurer, to __ we gave the money, announced the balance of the account.

11 ) The engineers __ designed the building received an award.

12) The townspeople, __ pride in their community is well-known, raised enough money to build a new town hail.

Paying attention to grammatically correct usage, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with who, whom or which. Use who or whom for antecedents which refer to persons, and use which for antecedents which refer to things. For example:

The woman __ borrowed the books is a librarian.

The woman who borrowed the books is a librarian.

The key __ opens this door is difficult to turn.

The key which opens this door is difficult to turn.

The children __ we met are well-behaved.

The children whom we met are well-behaved.

The story __ you heard is true.

The story which you heard is true.

The man to __ you told the news is my brother.

The man to whom you told the news is my brother.

I have not yet received the letter to __ you refer.

I have not yet received the letter to which you refer.

1) The window __ is open is the kitchen window.

2) The girl __ recited the poem is my niece.

3) The woman to __ we were introduced was quite helpful.

4) The opportunity to __ she owed her success came unexpectedly.

5) The man __ they trusted was unreliable.

6) The book __ you read is the best book by that author.

7) The Pacific Ocean, __ may have been crossed by raft during the

Stone Age, is the world’s largest ocean.

8) His mother, __ he visited frequently, ran her own business.

9) The boy, __ was friendly and intelligent, soon found work.

10) Her husband, to __ she told the story, was just as surprised as I was.

11 ) The pictures, __ were taken in Algeria, were very striking.

12) The newspaper to __ we subscribe is delivered regularly.

Decide whether the following clauses are defining or non-defining clauses. Insert commas where necessary.

1) The car which was a rare sports coupe was built in 1966.

2) We invited the boy who Tom had met the week before to the party.

3) Our friends who we met at university are coming to visit next week.

4) That is the building where they shot the film ‘Vanilla Sky’.

5) Mr Jackson whose son also goes to this school will be attending the party next weekend.

6) The author’s latest book which has become a bestseller is about two children in Jamaica.

Work together to expand the following story by using as many nondefining relative clauses as you can. Feel free to make a funny story!

A man called Peter took an airplane to New York to visit his sister. When he arrived at the airport, a old man asked him a question. Peter gave a short reply and the man invited him for a drink. Peter accepted, and after he had the drink, caught the airplane to New York. When he got to his sister’s apartment, his sister invited him into the living room. As he entered the room, he was surprised to see the same man.

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