Relative Clauses in English: Defining and Non-Defining

Relative Clauses in English

Defining (essential)

No commas. The woman who lives next door is a doctor.

• Who (people, subject)
• Whom (people, object)
• Which (things)
• That (people or things)
• Whose (possession)

Non-Defining (extra info)

With commas. My mother, who is 65, still works.

Exercise

Complete:

1. The man … car was stolen called the police.
2. This is the house … I grew up.

See Comparative and Superlative and Wh-Questions.