Defining Relative Clauses
Defining relative clauses, also known as identifying relative clauses or restrictive
relative clauses, provide essential information about the person, thing, or place
being referred to. They help to identify which specific person, thing, or place is being
talked about.
A defining relative clause typically begins with a relative pronoun such as “who”,
“that”, “which”, or “where”, and provides crucial information about the noun it
modifies. The clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, and without it, the
sentence would be incomplete or unclear.
Here are some examples:
•The woman who lives next door is my neighbor. (The clause “who lives next
door” provides essential information about the woman being referred to.)
•The book that I recommended is on the bestseller list. (The clause “that I
recommended” provides essential information about the book being referred to.)
•The city where I grew up is very beautiful. (The clause “where I grew up”
provides essential information about the city being referred to.)
In each of these examples, the relative clause provides crucial information that
helps to identify which specific person, thing, or place is being referred to. Without the
relative clause, the sentence would be incomplete or unclear.
It’s worth noting that defining relative clauses can be restrictive or non-restrictive.
Restrictive relative clauses provide essential information, while non-restrictive relative
clauses provide additional information that is not essential to the meaning of the
sentence.
Let's Practice!
D. Rewrite the sentences, combining them together using de fining relative clauses.
1. The last time I saw my best friend was at a festival. It was in Australia.
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2. My favorite dessert is pavlova. My mother makes it for my birthday every year.
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3. Have you watched that film yet? I recommended it to you last month.
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4. I've never met that woman. My cousin is talking to her.
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5. I want to buy that handbag. It has grey buttons.
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6. I'll never forget that moment. I met the president of the U.S.
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7. This is the playground. We used to play there every day as children.
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8. That's the window. It was broken last week.
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