Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Relative Clauses in English Grammar, Commas Required: Non-defining…

- - - - -
        
        Examples:
        
        The person who called me is my friend.
        
        I know someone who can help.
  - - - Used to specify a person as an object.
        
        Example:
        
        The teacher whom I admire is retiring.
    - - Which (for things or animals, subject and object)
        
        Used to specify an object or objects.
        
        Example:
        
        The book which you recommended is excellent.
      - That (for people or things, subject and object)
        
        Commonly used for both people and things.
        
        Example:
        
        The car that I bought is red.
        
        Whose (possessive)
        
        Used to indicate possession or ownership.
        
        Example:
        
        The man whose car was stolen is upset.
- - - - Used to define or specify the noun.
      - Example:
        
        The cat that chased the mouse is cute.
    - - Punctuation in Relative Clauses:
      - Defining Relative Clauses:
        
        No Commas: Defining relative clauses, which provide essential information to identify the noun, are not separated by commas.
      - Non-Defining Relative Clauses:
        
        Example: My friend Sarah, who just moved here, is an excellent chef.
      - Additional Punctuation Considerations:
        
        If the relative clause appears in the middle of a sentence, it should be enclosed by commas.
        
        Example: My dog, which is very friendly, loves to play with children.
        
        If the relative clause is at the end of the sentence, it should be preceded by a comma.
        
        Example: She told me about her recent trip to Paris, which was a fantastic experience.
- - - - Non-defining relative clauses provide additional information about a noun without defining or identifying it.
      - These clauses are more common in written English and are often used to offer extra details or comments about the noun.
      - The relative pronoun used for non-defining clauses for people is "who" (subject or object), and for things or animals, it's "which" (subject or object).
      - "Whom" is used for people as an object pronoun in formal English but is less common in modern English.
      - "That" can be used for both people and things (subject or object) and is commonly used in spoken English as a replacement for "who" or "which."
      - "Whose" is used as a possessive relative pronoun.
      - Relative pronouns can be placed at the beginning or the end of the relative clause, but the informal placement is at the end, with the preposition.
      - The relative pronoun can be omitted when it is the object of the clause but is compulsory when it is the subject.
      - In defining relative clauses, no commas are used.