Defining or Non-defining?
The man who lives next door is a doctor.
Defining or Non-defining?
Defining
The student ___ won the prize is from Spain.
The student who won the prize is from Spain.
I met a girl. She plays the guitar.
I met a girl who plays the guitar.
I met a girl that plays the guitar. (informal)
The man which lives next door is very kind.
The man who lives next door is very kind.
Who → for people; which → for things.
My sister, who lives in Italy, is visiting next month.
Defining or Non-defining?
Non-defining
The city ___ we visited last year is my favorite.
a) which
b) -
c) both a and b are correct
c) both a and b are correct
The hotel was expensive. We stayed there last summer.
Provide at least 2 possible answers.
The hotel where we stayed last summer was expensive.
The hotel that we stayed at last summer was expensive. (less formal, common in spoken English)
The hotel in which we stayed last summer was expensive. (formal)
My sister, that works in Madrid, loves her job.
My sister, who works in Madrid, loves her job.
🔹 In non-defining clauses, “that” ❌ is not allowed.
You lent me a book. It was excellent.
Join the sentences. Defining or non-defining?
The book that you lent me was excellent.
The book which you lent me was excellent.
The book you lent me was excellent.
Defining
The boy ___ father is a musician is my friend.
The boy whose father is a musician is my friend.
My cousin lives in London. He works for a tech company.
Provide a defining and a non-defining version.
My cousin, who works for a tech company, lives in London. (non-defining — commas needed)
My cousin who works for a tech company lives in London. (defining — implies you have several cousins)
The restaurant where we went to yesterday was full.
The restaurant where we went yesterday was full.
🔹 Don’t use both where + to together.
We visited Paris last summer. Paris is beautiful.
Join the sentences. Defining or non-defining?
Paris, which we visited last summer, is beautiful.
Non-defining.
The year ___ we met was unforgettable.
Provide four correct answers.
The year when we met was unforgettable.
The year in which we met was unforgettable.
The year that we met was unforgettable.
The year we met was unforgettable.
The film was fantastic. You recommended it to me.
Provide ALL the possible answers.
The film which you recommended to me was fantastic.
The film that you recommended to me was fantastic.
The film you recommended to me was fantastic. (relative pronoun omitted — informal)
Paris that I visited last year, is a beautiful city.
Paris, which I visited last year, is a beautiful city.
🔹 Non-defining clause: commas needed, “that” forbidden.
The roof of the house was damaged in the storm. It has been repaired.
Join the sentences. Defining or non-defining?
The house whose roof was damaged in the storm has been repaired.
Defining.
My uncle, ___ used to be a pilot, lives in Canada.
Choose ALL the correct options:
a) whom b) which
c) who d) that
e) - f) when
c) who
My phone broke yesterday. It was a birthday gift from my parents.
Provide ALL the possible answers.
My phone, which was a birthday gift from my parents, broke yesterday. (non-defining: commas required)
My phone, that was a birthday gift from my parents, broke yesterday. ❌ Incorrect — that cannot be used in non-defining clauses. So only the first option is correct.
My laptop that I bought in Germany, which battery lasts ten hours, is very reliable.
My laptop, which I bought in Germany and whose battery lasts ten hours, is very reliable.
🔹 Two non-defining ideas must be joined under one single relative clause. Using that ❌ in a non-defining clause is incorrect; whose expresses possession.