مدونة التربية و التعليم في الجزائر – دروس، فروض، نتائج امتحانات مدونة التربية والتعليم في الجزائر | تحضير الدروس، فروض واختبارات، نتائج البكالوريا وBEM، مسابقات التوظيف، والتوجيه المدرسي للطلاب وأولياء الأمور.
Relative Clauses (Defining and Non-Defining) – الوصلات النسبية في الإنجليزية
Relative clauses are an essential grammar topic for the Baccalaureate exam. They allow us to combine sentences and provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence.
1. What is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that modifies a noun or noun phrase. It starts with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whom, whose) and gives more information about the person or thing mentioned.
2. Defining Relative Clauses (جمل الوصل المحددة)
A defining relative clause gives essential information about the noun. Without it, the sentence would be incomplete or unclear.
- Who: for people → “The student who studies hard will succeed.”
- Which: for things/animals → “The book which is on the table is mine.”
- That: for people or things (informal) → “The house that I bought is old.”
- Whom: for people (object) → “The teacher whom you met is my uncle.”
- Whose: for possession → “The student whose father is a doctor is absent.”
Important: In defining relative clauses, that can replace who, which, and whom. The relative pronoun can be OMITTED if it is the object of the clause: “The film (that) I watched was boring.”
3. Non-Defining Relative Clauses (جمل الوصل غير المحددة)
A non-defining relative clause gives extra, non-essential information. We ALWAYS use commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence.
- We CANNOT use that in non-defining clauses.
- We CANNOT omit the relative pronoun.
- Example: “My father, who is a doctor, works in a hospital.”
- Example: “Paris, which is the capital of France, is a beautiful city.”
4. Practice Exercise (Bac Style)
Combine the following sentences using a relative pronoun:
a) I met a girl. She speaks three languages.
→ I met a girl who speaks three languages.
b) The car was stolen. It was parked outside.
→ The car which was parked outside was stolen. (or: The car that was parked outside was stolen.)
c) This is the house. I was born there.
→ This is the house where I was born. (where = relative adverb)
d) Algeria won the match. This surprised everyone.
→ Algeria won the match, which surprised everyone. (Non-defining: refers to the whole clause)
5. Bac Exam Tip
In the Bac exam, you will often be asked to join two sentences using a relative pronoun. Remember:
– Identify if the information is essential (defining) or extra (non-defining).
– Use commas for non-defining clauses.
– ‘That’ is only for defining clauses.
– Omit the pronoun when possible for object defining clauses.
6. Summary
| Type | Punctuation | Can use ‘that’ | Can omit pronoun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defining | No commas | Yes | Yes (if object) |
| Non-Defining | Commas | No | No |
📍 دروس مشابهة
- Bac English: Modal Auxiliaries (Modal Verbs) – Rules, Examples and Practice – 3rd Year Secondary School
- Bac English: Linking Words and Connectors – Writing Guide with Examples – 3rd Year Secondary School
- Bac English: Conditionals (If Clauses) – Types, Rules and Practice
- Bac English: The Passive Voice – Rules, Forms and Practice
