Defining or Non-defining or Both?
This type of clause is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
Non-defining relative clause
he bought last week/very cheap/is/The bike/which
The bike, which he bought last week, is very cheap.
a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
rumour(s)
My sister is 21. She's in college.
My sister, who is in college, is 21.
You need to ______ this button to turn off the computer.
press
This type of clause adds information to the sentence and can't be removed without changing the meaning.
Defining relative clause
whose/That's the/house was destroyed/poor man
That's the poor man whose house was destroyed.
feeling or showing envy.
envious
"Starry Night" is very famous. It was painted by Van Gogh.
"Starry Night," which is very famous, was painted by Van Gogh.
I saw the ______ in his eyes and asked why he was crying.
This type of clause can only come after the noun it refers to.
Defining and non-defining relative clauses
who is a dentist/her son/New York/lives in
Her son, who is a dentist, lives in New York.
to do something intentionally.
on purpose
My grandmother lives in Greece. She was born in 1940.
My grandmother, who lives in Greece, was born in 1940.
Sorry, but I have to rush because I am ______.
late
This clause can only use relative pronouns "who" to refer to people and "which" to refer to places and things.
Non-defining relative clauses
which is in the Louvre/was painted by/the Mona Lisa/Leonardo da Vinci
The Mona Lisa, which is in the Louvre, was painted by Leonardo da Vinci
no longer feel angry about or wish to punish (an offence, flaw, or mistake).
forgive
The vase was expensive. It was stolen last week.
The vase, which was expensive, was stolen last week.
My hands ______ sweat when I feel ______.
sweat, nervous
This type of clause doesn't need a relative pronoun if the noun used is the object (not the subject) of the clause.
Defining relative clause
Example:
They are the people who she met at the party.
They are the people she met at the party.
professional tennis player/son is/that's the man/whose
That's the man whose son is a professional tennis player.
when you don't "let it go" when you feel someone's insulted or wronged you, you _______ __ _______.
hold a grudge
This room is in the back of the house. It's my office.
This room, which is in the back of the house, is my office.
what does "in over my head" mean?