Defining relative clauses
Definition
A defining relative clause identifies exactly which person or thing is meant. The information is essential to the meaning, so the clause is not separated from the noun by commas.
Examples
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The woman who lives next door is a pilot.
The clause identifies which woman is meant.
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I returned the book that you lent me.
The clause identifies the particular book.
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This is the café where we first met.
Where introduces essential information about a place.
Defining vs. non-defining relative clauses
My sister who lives in Rome is a designer.
The clause identifies which sister is meant, implying there is more than one.
My sister, who lives in Rome, is a designer.
The sister is already identified; the clause adds extra information.
A defining clause is necessary to identify the noun and has no commas. A non-defining clause adds optional information and is enclosed by commas.
The relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted
In a defining clause, who, which or that can be omitted when it is the object of the clause. It cannot be omitted when it is the subject.
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The film we watched was excellent.
That is omitted because it would be the object of watched.
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The person who called left no message.
Who cannot be omitted because it is the subject of called.
Common mistakes
The man which works here is my uncle.
The man who works here is my uncle.
Use who or that for people, not which.
The laptop who I bought is already broken.
The laptop that I bought is already broken.
Use which or that for things, not who.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence contains a correct defining relative clause about a person?
Who correctly refers to a person and acts as the subject of helped.Which sentence correctly omits an object relative pronoun?
In The jacket I ordered, the omitted relative pronoun would be the object of ordered.Which sentence uses a defining relative clause without unnecessary commas?
The clause identifies a particular group of people, so it is defining and takes no commas.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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