Bac English: Relative Clauses (Defining and Non-Defining) – Rules and Practice – 3rd Year Secondary School

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