How to use relative clauses - a Mini English Lesson

Summary

This video explains the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses in a simple and engaging way. It breaks down the two types of clauses with clear examples, making it easy to understand when each type is necessary. A defining relative clause is crucial to the sentence's meaning, while a non-defining relative clause adds extra but non-essential information. Through practical examples, the lesson helps viewers overcome their fear of relative clauses and learn how to use them confidently in everyday English.

Takeaways

• 😀 A relative clause is a secondary sentence linked to a main sentence, providing additional information.
• 😀 Defining relative clauses are essential for the main sentence to make sense and cannot be removed.
• 😀 Non-defining relative clauses provide extra information but can be removed without affecting the main sentence.
• 😀 An example of a defining relative clause: 'These are the people who bought the house.' Removing 'who bought the house' leaves the sentence incomplete.
• 😀 Another example of a defining relative clause: 'This is the man who she met at the party.' Removing 'who she met at the party' leaves the sentence unclear.
• 😀 Non-defining relative clauses add extra details but don't change the meaning of the main sentence.
• 😀 An example of a non-defining relative clause: 'The celebrity, who has ten children, came to my house.' Removing 'who has ten children' still leaves a complete sentence.
• 😀 Another example of a non-defining relative clause: 'His brother, who works at the supermarket, is a friend of mine.' Removing 'who works at the supermarket' still leaves a full sentence.
• 😀 Defining relative clauses help specify who or what is being referred to in the main sentence.
• 😀 Non-defining relative clauses are often used for additional information, like side notes or interesting facts.
• 😀 The main difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses is whether the sentence remains clear or complete without the clause.

Q & A

What is a relative clause?

A relative clause is a secondary sentence linked to a main sentence, providing extra information about who or what is being talked about in the main sentence. It cannot stand alone without the main sentence.

What is the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses?

Defining relative clauses are necessary for the main sentence to make sense, while non-defining relative clauses are not essential for the main sentence and add extra information that could be removed without altering the meaning of the sentence.

Why is the relative clause 'who bought the house' important in the sentence 'These are the people who bought the house'?

'Who bought the house' is a defining relative clause because, without it, the sentence 'These are the people' would not be clear. It answers the question 'people who?' and helps identify which people are being referred to.

What happens if we remove the defining relative clause in the sentence 'This is the man who she met at the party'?

If we remove 'who she met at the party', the sentence 'This is the man' would be incomplete and unclear. The clause 'who she met at the party' is essential for understanding which man is being referred to.

What is the role of a non-defining relative clause in a sentence?

A non-defining relative clause provides extra, interesting information, but it is not necessary for the main sentence to make sense. The sentence would still be complete and understandable without it.

Can you give an example of a non-defining relative clause?

An example is 'The celebrity, who has ten children, came to my house.' The clause 'who has ten children' is a non-defining relative clause because removing it would still leave the main sentence 'The celebrity came to my house,' which makes sense on its own.

Why is 'who has ten children' considered a non-defining relative clause in the sentence 'The celebrity, who has ten children, came to my house'?

'Who has ten children' is a non-defining relative clause because it provides extra information about the celebrity, but its removal doesn't affect the main sentence 'The celebrity came to my house,' which is still meaningful without it.

What is the key difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses in terms of sentence meaning?

The key difference is that a defining relative clause is essential for the meaning of the sentence, while a non-defining relative clause is not essential and can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence.

In the sentence 'His brother, who works at the supermarket, is a friend of mine,' what role does 'who works at the supermarket' play?

'Who works at the supermarket' is a non-defining relative clause. It adds extra information about 'his brother', but the sentence 'His brother is a friend of mine' is complete and meaningful without it.

How can we easily distinguish between defining and non-defining relative clauses?

One way to distinguish them is by removing the relative clause. If the main sentence still makes sense, it's a non-defining relative clause. If the sentence becomes unclear or incomplete, it's a defining relative clause.