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The Daily Insight

What is non-defining clause example

Author

Sarah Silva

Updated on April 20, 2026

As the name suggests, non-defining relative clauses tell us more about someone or something, but the information in these clauses does not help us to define what we are talking about.Take for example the sentence: Gorillas, which are large and originate in Africa, can sometimes be found in zoos.

What are non-defining clauses?

Non-defining relative clauses (also known as non-restrictive, or parenthetical, clauses) provide some additional information that is not essential and may be omitted without affecting the contents of the sentence.

What is defining and non-defining relative clauses give an example?

Grammar explanation Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. Non-defining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something. It isn’t essential for understanding who or what we are talking about. My grandfather, who’s 87, goes swimming every day.

What is a defining clause example?

As the name suggests, defining relative clauses give essential information to define or identify the person or thing we are talking about. Take for example the sentence: Dogs that like cats are very unusual.

What is an example of a non relative clause?

Here are some more examples of a non-defining relative clause used in a sentence: My mum, who has been baking for years, made us cupcakes. I walk to school with my friend, whose house is next door to mine. My friend, whom I’ve known for years, came to my house today.

Which of the following is an example of a defining relative clause?

A defining relative clause tells which noun we are talking about: I like the woman who lives next door. (If I don’t say ‘who lives next door’, then we don’t know which woman I mean).

How do you identify a defining and non-defining relative clause?

A non-defining relative clause is separated from the main part of the sentence by commas. A defining relative clause is not separated from the main part of the sentence by commas.

What is an example of a relative clause?

Relative Clause Example: The university where my sister goes to school is in Chicago. ( Where my sister goes to school is a relative clause. It contains the relative adverb where, the subject sister, and the verb goes. The clause modifies the noun university.)

Can I use which in defining clause?

In a defining relative clause, we use one of the following relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, where, when, why and that. In spoken English, we often replace the relative pronouns ‘who’, ‘whom’ or ‘which’ with ‘that’. ‘Whom’ is also considered to be very formal, so it’s rarely, if ever, used when speaking.

How do you teach a defining relative clause?
  1. Identify In-text. …
  2. Introduce the Structure. …
  3. Start to Add Relative Clauses to Sentences. …
  4. Use Scrambled Sentences. …
  5. Create Relevant Writing Tasks.
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Can non-defining relative clauses be reduced?

Non-restrictive (non-defining) relative clauses can be reduced in one way; subject pronouns with “be” verbs can be deleted.

Which pronoun do we never use in non-defining clauses?

We never use the relative pronoun “that” in non-defining relative clauses. Examples: Mr Smith, who works with me, has invited me to a party. Mr Smith, that works with me, has invited me to a party.

When can you omit a relative pronoun?

We can omit relative pronouns when they are not the subject of the clause (without affecting the structure or meaning of the sentence). When we omit the relative pronoun we can use that in informal speech.

What are the 5 relative clauses?

Using Relative Clauses There are five relative pronouns—that, which, who, whom, and whose—and three relative adverbs—where, when, and why.

How do you identify a relative clause?

  1. First, it will contain a subject and a verb.
  2. Next, it will begin with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, or which) or a relative adverb (when, where, or why).
  3. Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the questions What kind? How many? or Which one?

What is the difference between defining and non-defining?

Defining relative clauses add essential information to a sentence and the clause cannot be omitted. … Non-defining relative clauses add non-essential information to a sentence and can be left out of a sentence without changing it’s meaning.

What is non relative clause?

What is a Non-Defining Relative Clause? A type of relative clause, a non-defining relative clause tells us more about the subject of a sentence, but the information doesn’t help to define what we’re talking about. The information included in the clause is extra: it’s not essential for understanding the sentence.

When can I reduce relative clauses?

Relative clauses can also be reduced to shorter forms if the relative clause modifies the subject of a sentence. Relative clause reduction refers to removing a relative pronoun to reduce: An adjective/person who was happy: happy person.

Who can be omitted?

people often omit the relative pronoun “who” or “whom” to avoid having to worry about which is grammatically correct. however, in all cases where it can be omitted, it is “whom”.

Can we omit Which is?

When the relative pronoun is the subject, we can omit that, who, or which in two basic ways: If that, who, or which is followed by the verb “be” (in any form), both elements can be omitted. The keys that are on the table are mine.