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Non-defining Relative Clauses


Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-identifying relative clauses or non-restrictive relative clauses) give additional information on something, but do not define it. Non-defining relative clauses are put in commas.

Note that that CANNOT be used in non-defining relative clauses.

Imagine, Tom is in a room with only one girl. The two are talking to each other and you ask somebody whether he knows this girl. Here the relative clause is non-defining because in this situation it is obvious which girl you mean.

Do you know the girl, who is talking to Tom?

Note: In non-defining relative clauses, who/which may not be replaced with that.

Object pronouns in non-defining relative clauses must be used.

Jim, who/whom we met yesterday, is very nice.

When the relative pronoun refers back to a person and is the subject of the non-defining relative clause, who is used, e.g.:

The woman, who later died in hospital, has not yet been named.

When the relative pronoun refers back to a thing and is the subject of the non-defining relative clause, which is used, e.g.:

This new project, which begins in September, will cost several million pounds.

When the relative pronoun refers back to a person and is the object of the non-defining relative clause, who or whom are used, e.g.:

Her previous manager, who she had never liked, retired six months ago.

Edward’s brother, whom she later married, never spoke to his parents again.

Register note. As in defining relative clauses, whom is rather formal and would only be used in written English or formal spoken English.

When the relative pronoun refers back to a thing and is the object of the non-defining relative clause, which is used, e.g.:

This bar of chocolate, which he devoured immediately, was the first thing he had eaten in two days.

Note that, unlike in defining relative clauses, there is no zero relative pronoun, i.e. the pronoun cannot be left out when it is functioning as the object of the relative clause, cf:

He was a distant cousin who/whom/that she had never met. (defining)

He was a distant cousin she had never met. (defining)

A distant cousin, who/whom she had never met, was meeting her for lunch. (non-defining)

 

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