Combining Sentences with Non-defining Relative Clauses
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Three things about Non-defining Relative Clauses. 1. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets. 2. Non-defining relative clauses are NOT used in spoken English. It would sound unnatural. 3. The relative pronoun can never be omitted. Combine the sentences using non-defining relative pronouns. 1 Valencia is a great place. Valencia is due east of Madrid. 2 Jimbo is living in Thailand now. Jimbo got divorced last year. 3 Clare is a good teacher. I don't like Clare very much. 4 The Flaca pub rocks. I met my girlfriend in The Flaca. (use WHERE) 5 My greasy neighbour stinks of after-shave. My greasy neighbour is a bus driver. 6 Almeria is very dry. The beaches of Almeria are wonderful. 7 The school was built in 1907. The school has about 800 students. 8 The government handled the diplomatic crisis badly. The government is facing corruption charges. 9 The Plaza Rodonda square is near the cathedral. They hold a market in The Plaza Rodonda square every Sunday. (use WHERE) 10 Samantha is coming to the party. Samantha's mother is mayoress of this town.
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Hi Sinan, let's solve this together by learning how to form non-defining relative clauses step-by-step.
Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses provide extra, non-essential information about a person, place, or thing.
Let's first review the three key rules given in the worksheet. These clauses are set off by commas, are not typically used in spoken English, and the relative pronoun can never be omitted. Also, keep in mind that we can never use the pronoun 'that' here.
Key Rules:
1. Always use commas `, ... ,` to enclose the clause.
2. Do NOT use that; use which, who, whom, whose, or where.
3. The relative pronoun is mandatory.
Let's start with sentences one, two, and three. In sentence one, we have Valencia. Since Valencia is a place and the subject of the clause is due east of Madrid, we use which.
Sentences 1 to 3
1. Valencia is a great place. Valencia is due east of Madrid.
*Combined:* Valencia, which is due east of Madrid, is a great place.
Next, for sentence two, Jimbo is a person, and the extra detail is that he got divorced last year. We use who.
2. Jimbo is living in Thailand now. Jimbo got divorced last year.
*Combined:* Jimbo, who got divorced last year, is living in Thailand now.
For sentence three, Clare is a person whom the speaker doesn't like very much. Since Clare is the object of the verb like, we use whom.
3. Clare is a good teacher. I don't like Clare very much.
*Combined:* Clare, whom I don't like very much, is a good teacher.
Now let's move on to sentences four, five, and six. In number four, we are instructed to use where because we are referring to the location of the Flaca pub.
Sentences 4 to 6
4. The Flaca pub rocks. I met my girlfriend in The Flaca. (use WHERE)
*Combined:* The Flaca pub, where I met my girlfriend, rocks.
In sentence five, we describe a greasy neighbour who is a bus driver. Since the neighbour is a person, we use who.
5. My greasy neighbour stinks of after-shave. My greasy neighbour is a bus driver.
*Combined:* My greasy neighbour, who is a bus driver, stinks of after-shave.
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