A relative clause gives additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. It is also called adjective clause because it serves the same purpose as an adjective.

Relative clauses are usually introduced by the relative pronouns who, whom, which, that, what, whose etc.

Study the examples given below.

• I met a girl who was wearing a red dress.

Here the relative clause who was wearing a red dress gives additional information about the noun girl. Here the noun girl is the antecedent of the relative clause.

If you remove the relative clause from this sentence, the meaning will be incomplete because it is not possible to know which girl we are talking about. Hence, here the relative clause who was wearing a red dress identifies or defines its antecedent. In other words, it is a defining or restrictive relative clause.

Relative clauses that follow proper nouns are usually non-defining or non-restrictive. This is because in this case the relative clause is not necessary for identifying the noun.

• I have always wanted to visit Paris which is known as the fashion capital of the world.

Here the relative clause which is known as the fashion capital of the world is not necessary for identifying the noun Paris. Hence, it is a non-defining or non-restrictive relative clause.

Complete the following sentences with suitable non-defining relative clauses of your own. This worksheet is taken from MacMillan English Ferry Class 8 Workbook.

In writing, a non-defining relative clause is separated with commas.

1. Nita ………………………………. is my classmate.

2. Kolkata …………………………………… is known as the City of Joy.

3. George Bernard Shaw ………………………………….. was an Irish playwright.

4. London ……………………………… is one of the largest cities in the world.

5. Bert ……………………………. likes to go trekking.

6. Sara ……………………………. is very helpful by nature.

7. Karishma ……………………………. is going to Mussoorie next month.

8. Veronica ………………………………. is very style conscious.

Answers

1. Nita, who is sitting in that corner, is my classmate.

2. Kolkata, where I spent my childhood, is known as the City of Joy.

3. George Bernard Shaw, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925, was an Irish playwright.

4. London, which is the capital of Britain, is one of the largest cities in the world.

5. Bert, who is quite adventurous, likes to go trekking.

6. Sara, whom we met in the orphanage, is very helpful by nature.

7. Karishma, who is my colleague, is going to Mussoorie next month.

8. Veronica, who is wearing a new hat, is very style conscious.