We use those to give extra information, which isnt absolutely necessary. Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. Relative pronouns and sentences in english grammar exercises. In defining clauses, we can omit the relative pronoun in the position of object. Defining and nondefining relative clauses nondefining relative clauses. 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. Please contact me if you have any questions or ntact me. Nondefining relative clauses are more often used in written english than in spoken english. They are also known as nonrestrictive relative clauses and they are particularly common in written english.
Nondefining relative clauses are placed after nouns which are definite already. There are two types of relative clauses 1 defining 2 nondefining defining relative clauses specify a particular noun. Exercise 2 nondefining relative clauses solutions oxford. Amelia, mother is from shanghai, speaks english and chinese fluently. A nondefining or nonessential clause gives us more information about the person or thing we are talking about.
Please contact me if you have any questions or ntact me if you have any questions or comments. Turn the underlined sentence into a relative clause. Exercises with answers and grammar rules with examples. Commas or parentheses are always used to separate nondefining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence. You also cannot leave out the relative pronoun in nondefining relative clauses, in the way you sometimes can in defining relative clauses. Learn more about using defining relative clauses correctly nondefining clauses.
Add the phrase in brackets to the sentence using a relative clause. A nondefining relative clause gives extra information about a noun or noun phrase and has commas at both ends my sister, who lives in france, is coming to stay with me next week. A relative clause is an added part in a sentence that is used in relation to the main sentence. Relative clauses exercise 1 perfect english grammar. A nondefining relative clause gives us extra information without which we could still understand the main part of the sentence. Relative clauses exercise 4 perfect english grammar. Relative clauses defining and nondefining give extra information about a person, a thing etc. In defining relative clauses, the pronouns who, whom, and which are often replaced by that in spoken english. We can use that in defining relative clauses we can use that instead of. Defining and non defining relative clauses 2 pages worksheet with grammar guide. It is not essential information to understand the sentence.
Add the phrase in brackets to the sentence using that or who and a relative clause. The information in a defining relative clause is essential, so we cant leave out the relative clause. Nondefining relative pronouns exercise three things about nondefining relative clauses. Defining and nondefining relative clauses english grammar. It isnt essential for understanding who or what we are talking about. Relative clause exercises about defining and nondefining relative clauses.
Defining and nondefining relative clauses test english. A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes. There are two broad types of relative clauses in english. First, lets consider when the relative pronoun is the subject of a defining relative clause. Relative clauses learnenglish teens british council.
The man next door, who works from home, kept an eye on the house for us. Esl english relative clauses quiz 5 mixed relative. Defining relative clauses defining relative clauses carry essential information, because they identify which thing or person we are talking about, and they are used without commas this is the music which was used at the show. Relative clauses are nonessential parts of a sentence.
Defining and non defining relative clauses by mespada4 its a short explanation to help students see the difference between essential and nonessential information in relative clauses. Here you will find many relative clauses english grammar exercises at all levels so you can practice and improve your knowledge of relative clauses. Practice on the defining and nondefining relative clauses. English esl defining relative clauses worksheets most downloaded 27 results prev. Defining vs nondefining there are two types of relative clauses, defining and nondefining. Nondefining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun, a verb, and optional other elements such as the subject or object of the verb.
This type of clause is separated from the main clause by commas. We could miss out the relative and the meaning would still be clear. Welcome to esl printables, the website where english language teachers exchange resources. Nondefining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something. These are nondefining relative clauses or nonrestrictive relative clauses. 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. The information that is given by nondefining relative clauses is extra and it is not necessary. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets. A non defining relative clause gives us extra information about something. Relative clauses there are two types of relative clause.
Printable english grammar pdf rules to download for free. Complete the sentences with whose, who, which, or where. They may add meaning, but if they are removed, the sentence will still function grammatically. The man who wants to talk to you is waiting for you. Nondefining relative clauses are not used in spoken english. They are not essential in the sentence and can be omitted without causing confusion.
Dublin, is the capital of ireland, is my favourite city. Defining and nondefining relative clauses who, whom, whose, which, that. Look at these examples to see how nondefining relative clauses are used. Relative pronouns relative pronouns are the words that introduce relative clauses. However, sometimes a relative clause is so important that the main sentence will be difficult to understand or have no meaning without it. The pronoun can never be omitted in a nondefining relative clause. A defining relative clause gives essential information about the noun or noun phrase it modifies, without which the sentence wouldnt make sense as the listener or reader would not be able to identify the noun in the sentence the hotel that we stayed in wasnt bad.
They are seperated by commas in writing, and by a pause on either side. In the grammar chart below, you can see the main differences between them. English esl defining relative clauses worksheets most. Bbc learning english quiznet nondefining relative clauses.
Have they found the prisoner who escaped last week. The ring that was stolen from my room hasnt been found yet. It is important to distinguish between them because it affects the choice of pronoun used to introduce the clause. English esl nondefining relative clauses worksheets most.
As the name suggests, nondefining relative clauses tell us more about someone or something, but the information in these clauses does not help us to define. We cant drop the relative pronoun in this kind of clause, even if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. It tells us more about someone or something, but do not define it. A nondefining relative clause gives us extra information about something. Relative clauses nondefining relative clauses learnenglish.
English grammar relative clauses relative clauses introduction there are two types of relative clauses. In nondefining relative clauses, you cannot replace other pronouns with that. Another possible answer is which is a familyrun organisation. A worksheet where students must combine sentences with the appropriate relative pronoun and then deciding if these are defining or nondefining. The modern olympic games, which take place every four years, were first held in 1896. The other type of relative clause adds extra information to the whole of the main clause. Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which. Relative clauses defining and nondefining test english. The relative clause can come after the subject or the object of the sentence. Make one sentence by changing the sentence in italics into a defining relative clause. Nondefining relative clauses give us more nonessential information about a noun.
A collection of english esl worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about nondefining, relative, claus. 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. Relative clauses exercise 3 perfect english grammar. Nondefining relative clauses english grammar b2 level. When there is a preposition in a relative clause, this usually goes at the end of the sentence.
Use who, that the girl who is the best in our class is nayad. Grammar quiz relative clauses complete these sixteen sentences to score your knowledge of relative clauses. Relative clauses nondefining relative clauses grammar. Relative clausesrelative pronouns mixed relative pronouns 1 level.
Defining and nondefining relative clauses intermediate. Defining and nondefinining relative clauses exercises pdf. A defining relative clause gives us information necessary to understand the sentence. Nondefining relative clauses definition of nondefining. Restrictive relative clauses are also called defining relative clauses. The information in a nondefining relative clause is extra information which isnt essential, so we can leave out the relative clause. A nondefining relative clause also called nonidentifying relative clauses or nonrestrictive relative clauses provide interesting additional information which is not essential to understanding the meaning of the sentence. Nondefining relative clauses non defining clauses add extra information. We use relative clauses to combine two simple sentences with the same noun phrases. Nondefining relative clauses english grammar rules. The house, which was built in 1883, has just been opened to the public.
Nondefining relative clauses give us information about a person or a thing, just like defining clauses. Buckingham palace, the queen of england lives, is in the. Going to present perfect tense past perfect tense future perfect tense regular, irregular verbs modal auxiliary verbs. Relative clauses exercise 2 perfect english grammar.
Mr brown, whom we studied english with, is a very nice. See a list of all the exercises about relative clauses here. Nonrestrictive relative clauses are also called nondefining relative clauses in both restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses, the relative pronoun can act as the subject or object. Nondefining relative clauses give information about nouns the river nile, which is over 6,500 kilometres long, is egypts main source of water. This example contains information about the noun the river nile. But merely add something to it by giving some more information about it. The award was given to sara, whose short story impressed the judges. Nondefining relative clauses also called nonidentifying relative clauses or nonrestrictive relative clauses give additional information on something, but do not define it. Nondefining clauses nonrestrictive clauses we use nondefining relative clauses to give extra information about the person or thing. Fernandez carmona, english grammar with exercises, longman, 2000. Nondefining relative clauses defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way to. Advanced choose the correct response to complete each relative clauses.