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Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. Defining
relative clauses give essential information.
Non-defining relative clauses give additional information that is not essential and
can be removed. They are used immediately after the person, thing, or place.
Always separate a non-defining relative clause from the main clause with a comma.
You can add extra information about:
1. places (where)
The hotel, where many famous people have stayed, is in the centre of the city.
Bournemouth, where I lived for four years, is a beautiful town on the south-west coast
of England.
I had a French exam yesterday, which meant I had to wake up early to prepare.
You should visit High Park in spring, when the cherry blossoms are blooming.
7. people (who)
I'm having lunch on Wednesday with my friend, who I haven't seen for ages.
You can use 'whom' instead of 'who' in formal written English when it is the object of
a relative clause.
*We don't use 'that', and don't omit the relative pronoun or relative adverb in non-
defining relative clauses.