Difference between revisions of "Non-defining relative clause"

A non-identifying relative clause, also known as a non-defining or non-restrictive relative clause is a relative clause that adds secondary information to a sentence, almost as an afterthought. Commas are used to "isolate" the clause from the rest of the sentence.

Examples[edit]

• My brother, who is an engineer, has been working in the same company for over twenty-five years.

• My favourite dish is roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, which is difficult to find on a restaurant menu.

You cannot use that[edit]

• John, who (not that) plays rugby and cricket, is always busy at weekends. [this is a bad example]

• Paul took me for a drive in his new car, which (not that) he had bought last week. [this is a bad example]

You cannot leave out who or which[edit]

• We stayed at the Grand Hotel, which Ann had recommended to us.

whom[edit]

This is one of the few cases that you can use whom (when it is the object):

• This morning I met Diane, who (or whom) I hadn’t seen since Christmas.

References[edit]