Defining or non-defining relative clauses?

Sometimes defining and non-defining relative clauses can look very similar but have
different meanings.
Compare

non-defining defining

His brother, who works at the His brother who works at the supermarket is a
supermarket, is a friend of mine. friend of mine.
He has only one brother, and that He has more than one brother. The one I’m talking
brother works at the supermarket. about works at the supermarket.

It’s hoped that we will raise £10,000

It’s hoped that we will raise £10,000 for local
for local charities, which help the
charities which help the homeless.
homeless.
The money is intended for local charities. Some of
The money is intended for local
these local charities help the homeless. There are
charities. All these local charities
other local charities as well as these.
help the homeless.

Warning:
The information in a defining relative clause is essential, so we can’t leave out the
relative clause. The information in a non-defining relative clause is extra information
which isn’t essential, so we can leave out the relative clause.
Compare

A defining relative clause which we

The soldier who had gold stripes on his can’t leave out; without this
uniform seemed to be the most important one. information we do not know which
soldier the speaker is referring to.

Non-defining relative clauses which

The tour party was weakened when Gordon
Hamilton, who played in the World Cup team,
withdrew yesterday because of a back injury, which
kept him out of the Five Nations Championship.
we can leave out:
The tour party was weakened when
Gordon Hamilton withdrew
yesterday because of a back injury.

Warning:
We can use that instead of who, whom or which in defining relative clauses, but not
in non-defining relative clauses:
I think anyone who speaks in public is nervous beforehand.
I think anyone that speaks in public is nervous beforehand.
Her car, which was very old, broke down after just five miles.
Not: Her car, that was very old, broke down after just five miles.