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Defining or Non-defining or Both?
Build a Clause
Combine the Sentences
Relative Pronouns - Necessary?
100
This type of clause is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
Non-defining relative clause
100

is being repaired/a painting/damaged by yesterday's fire (DRC)

A painting damaged by yesterday's fire is being repaired.

100
My sister is 21. She's in college.
My sister, who is in college, is 21.
100
He was a man working in a place ________ no one knew about.
(that/which)
200
This type of clause adds information to the sentence and can't be removed without changing the meaning.
Defining relative clause
200

she drew/eating a banana/of a monkey/a picture

She drew a picture of a monkey eating a banana.

200
"Starry Night" is very famous. It was painted by Van Gogh.
"Starry Night," which is very famous, was painted by Van Gogh.
200
Even the best of friends can have problems ______ are hard to solve.
that/which
300
This type of clause can only come after the noun it refers to.
Defining and non-defining relative clauses
300
who is a dentist/her son/New York/lives in
Her son, who is a dentist, lives in New York.
300
My grandmother lives in Greece. She was born in 1940.
My grandmother, who lives in Greece, was born in 1940.
300
The thing ______ she most wanted was the thing she couldn't have.
(that/which)
400
This clause can only use relative pronouns "who" to refer to people and "which" to refer to places and things.
Non-defining relative clauses
400
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
400
The vase was expensive. It was stolen last week.
The vase, which was expensive, was stolen last week.
400
Choose a or b:

a. The movie that I absolutely love is Avengers: Endgame

b. The movie, that I absolutely love, is Avengers

a.  The movie that I absolutely love is Avengers: Endgame

500

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.

500
professional tennis player/son is/that's the man/whose
That's the man whose son is a professional tennis player.
500
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.
500

Choose a or b:

a. My mother, who plays the violin, loves classical music.

b. My mother who plays the violin loves classical music.

a. My mother, who plays the violin, loves classical music.