REALTIVE CLAUSE - DEFINING AND NON DEFINING CLAUSES ANANLYSIS

REALTIVE CLAUSE - DEFINING AND NON DEFINING CLAUSES ANANLYSIS

Relative clauses are an essential part of English grammar, providing additional information about nouns. They can be categorized into two main types: defining (restrictive) and non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clauses. This guide will explain both types in detail, along with examples and key points for clarity.

What is a Relative Clause?

A relative clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. It typically begins with a relative pronoun or adverb, such as who, whom, whose, which, that, when, or where.

Functions of Relative Clauses

• Defining Relative Clauses: Provide essential information needed to identify the noun being referred to.
• Non-Defining Relative Clauses: Offer additional information that is not essential to identify the noun; this information can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Defining Relative Clauses

Definition

Defining relative clauses give essential information about the noun they modify. Without this information, the sentence would not convey a complete thought or would be ambiguous.

Examples

1. Sentence: "The woman who lives next door is a doctor."
   • Analysis: The clause "who lives next door" defines which woman is being referred to. Without this clause, we wouldn't know which woman is being discussed.
2. Sentence: "I like the book that you gave me."
   • Analysis: The clause "that you gave me" specifies which book is liked. Removing it would leave the statement vague.

Relative Pronouns Used

• Who: Refers to people.
• That: Refers to people, animals, or things.
• Which: Generally refers to animals or things.

Key Points

• No Commas: Defining clauses are not set off by commas.
• Omission: The relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted if it acts as the object of the clause. For example, "The book (that) I read was interesting."

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Definition

Non-defining relative clauses provide extra information about a noun that is already clear. This information is not essential for understanding the main point of the sentence.

Examples

1. Sentence: "My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting us."
   • Analysis: The clause "who lives in New York" adds extra information about the brother but isn’t necessary to identify him. The main sentence "My brother is visiting us" is complete without it.
2. Sentence: "London, which is the capital of England, is a vibrant city."
   • Analysis: The clause "which is the capital of England" gives additional information about London but is not required to understand the main point.

Relative Pronouns Used

• Who: Refers to people.
• Which: Refers to animals or things.
• Whose: Indicates possession.

Key Points

• Commas Required: Non-defining clauses are set off by commas.
• No Omission: The relative pronoun cannot be omitted in non-defining clauses.

Summary of Differences

Feature	Defining Relative Clauses	Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Purpose	Essential information	Extra information
Commas	No commas	Commas required
Omission of Pronoun	Possible if the pronoun is an object	Not possible
Example	"The car that I bought is red."	"My car, which is red, is new."

Combine these pairs of sentences using relative clause (defining or non defining)

1. The girl is my best friend. She won the science fair.

Ans: The girl, who won the science fair, is my best friend.

1. The car is very fast. I bought it last week.
2. The teacher is very helpful. She teaches math.
3. The book is on the table. I borrowed it from the library.
4. The movie was fantastic. We watched it last night.
5. The restaurant serves Italian food. We had dinner there.
6. The dog is barking loudly. It belongs to my neighbor.
7. The house is for sale. It has a beautiful garden.
8. The musician played at the concert. He is very talented.
9. The park is beautiful. We often walk there.
10. The painting was created by a famous artist. It is displayed in the gallery.
11. The student passed the exam. She studied very hard.
12. The bicycle was stolen. I bought it last year.
13. The book is a bestseller. It was recommended by my friend.
14. The city is known for its culture. I visited it last summer.
15. The athlete won a gold medal. He trains every day.
16. The dress is beautiful. She wore it to the party.
17. The phone is very expensive. I lost it yesterday.
18. The documentary was interesting. We watched it in class.
19. The teacher gave us homework. She is very strict.
20. The cake was delicious. She baked it for my birthday.
21. The movie was directed by a famous filmmaker. It won several awards.
22. The library has a large collection of books. I visit it often.
23. The scientist made a groundbreaking discovery. He is being honored.
24. The team won the championship. They trained very hard.
25. The hotel was very luxurious. We stayed there during our vacation.
26. The song became a hit. She wrote it last year.
27. The festival celebrates local culture. It takes place every summer.
28. The laptop is very powerful. I use it for work.
29. The teacher assigned a project. It is due next week.
30. The cat is very playful. It belongs to my sister.
31. The book is about history. It was written by a renowned author.
32. The athlete broke the record. He trained for years.
33. The city has many parks. We explored it last weekend.
34. The dress was on sale. She bought it for the wedding.
35. The conference is about climate change. It will be held next month.
36. The story is very touching. He wrote it for his daughter.
37. The movie was based on a true story. It received critical acclaim.
38. The restaurant has a great view. We had dinner there last night.
39. The scientist conducted an important experiment. The results were published.
40. The game was very exciting. We played it all night.
41. The musician performed at the festival. He is my favorite artist.
42. The book is a classic. It has been translated into many languages.
43. The teacher explained the lesson. It was very clear.
44. The flowers are blooming. They were planted in spring.
45. The documentary covers important issues. It was aired last week.
46. The car is very reliable. I have been driving it for years.
47. The movie was a box office success. It was released last summer.
48. The teacher is very knowledgeable. She teaches history.
49. The painting is a masterpiece. It was created by a famous artist.

Identify whether the sentence is having defining or non defining clause:

1. The book, which I borrowed from the library, is fascinating.
2. My sister, who lives in California, is coming to visit.
3. The dog that barks loudly belongs to my neighbour.
4. The restaurant, which serves Italian food, is always busy.
5. The athlete who won the race trained very hard.
6. Paris, which is known as the City of Light, is beautiful in the spring.
7. The painting that hangs in the gallery is a masterpiece.
8. The concert, which was held in the park, attracted a large crowd.
9. The flowers that bloom in spring are beautiful.
10. The movie that won the award was directed by a famous filmmaker.
11. My car, which I bought last year, has a great sound system.
12. The teacher who helped me with my project is very kind.
13. The city that I visited last summer was amazing.
14. The event, which was a huge success, raised a lot of money.
15. The dress that she wore to the party was stunning.
16. London, which is the capital of England, is a vibrant city.
17. The recipe that you gave me was delicious.
18. The laptop, which I bought last month, is very lightweight.
19. The student who studies the hardest usually gets the best grades.
20. The documentary that aired last night was very informative.
21. My grandmother, who is 85 years old, still lives alone.
22. The project that we submitted received high praise.
23. The flowers, which bloom in the summer, attract many bees.
24. The athlete who broke the record is from our school.
25. The meeting, which was scheduled for 10 AM, has been postponed.
26. The book that she recommended is on the bestseller list.
27. The vacation, which we planned for months, was unforgettable.
28. The scientist who discovered the cure is being honoured.
29. The smartphone, which I received as a gift, has many features.
30. The dress that she wore to the party was stunning.
31. The city, which I visited last year, has many historical sites.
32. The teacher, who has been at the school for years, is retiring.
33. The car that he drives is very expensive.
34. The article, which I read yesterday, discussed climate change.
35. The musician who played at the concert is my cousin.
36. The laptop that I use for work is very fast.
37. My friend, who is an excellent cook, made dinner for us.
38. The dog, who is very friendly, loves to play with children.
39. The book, which I finished last week, was very interesting.
40. The park where we played as children is now closed.
41. The film that I watched last night was quite thrilling.
42. The flowers that bloom in spring are beautiful.
43. The vacation, which we planned for months, was unforgettable.
44. The festival, which takes place every summer, is a lot of fun.
45. The book that I borrowed from the library is due tomorrow.
46. The musician, who is very talented, plays several instruments.
47. The car, which I bought last year, has a great sound system.
48. The student who studies the hardest usually gets the best grades.
49. The dog that barks loudly belongs to my neighbour.
50. The painting, which was created by a local artist, is for sale.

Conclusion

Understanding relative clauses is crucial for mastering English sentence structure. Defining relative clauses help clarify which specific noun is being discussed, while non-defining relative clauses add additional context without altering the core meaning of the sentence. By practicing with various examples, learners can enhance their writing and comprehension skills.