Relative Clauses Explained: Defining, Non-Defining & Reduced

Relative clauses help us add extra information to a sentence without starting a new one.
They make your English clearer, more natural, and more advanced—especially in writing and formal speaking.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn:
✔ Defining relative clauses
✔ Non-defining relative clauses
✔ Reduced relative clauses (advanced usage)

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📘 What Is a Relative Clause?

A relative clause gives more information about a noun and usually starts with a relative pronoun like:
who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when

Example:

• She is the teacher who teaches me English.

The clause “who teaches me English” describes the teacher.

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1️⃣ Defining Relative Clauses (Essential Information)

Defining relative clauses give essential information.
Without them, the sentence would be unclear.

👉 No commas are used.

🔹 Common Relative Pronouns:

• who / that → people
• which / that → things
• where → places
• when → time

✅ Examples:

• This is the student who topped the exam.
• I like books that help me learn English.
• This is the place where I studied English.

❌ This is the student. (Which student? ❓)

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2️⃣ Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Extra Information)

Non-defining relative clauses give extra, non-essential information.
The sentence still makes sense without them.

👉 Commas are always used.
👉 “That” is NOT used.

🔹 Common Relative Pronouns:

• who → people
• which → things
• whose → possession

✅ Examples:

• My teacher, who is very patient, explains clearly.
• Kolkata, which is a busy city, has rich culture.
• She met Priya, whose English is excellent.

💡 Removing the clause doesn’t change the main meaning.

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⚠️ Key Difference: Defining vs Non-Defining

Feature	Defining	Non-Defining
Information	Essential	Extra
Commas	❌ No	✅ Yes
Use of “that”	✅ Allowed	❌ Not allowed
Meaning changes if removed	✅ Yes	❌ No

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3️⃣ Reduced Relative Clauses (Advanced & Natural English)

Reduced relative clauses are used to make sentences shorter and more natural, especially in writing.

They are formed by removing the relative pronoun and verb.

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🔹 Reducing Active Relative Clauses

Full form:

• The boy who is playing outside is my brother.

Reduced form:

• The boy playing outside is my brother.

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🔹 Reducing Passive Relative Clauses

Full form:

• The book which was written by him is famous.

Reduced form:

• The book written by him is famous.

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🔹 Using Past Participles

• Students selected for the course will receive certificates.
• The work completed yesterday was excellent.

💡 Reduced forms are common in academic and professional English.

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🚫 When NOT to Reduce Relative Clauses

❌ If the clause has a modal or tense meaning
❌ If it causes confusion

Example (Do NOT reduce):

• The man who will speak today is my mentor.

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📝 Quick Practice

Rewrite using correct relative clauses:

1. This is the girl. She won the competition.
2. My uncle lives in Delhi. He is a doctor.
3. The students who are waiting outside are late.
4. The movie which was directed by Nolan was amazing.

✅ Answers:

1. This is the girl who won the competition.
2. My uncle, who is a doctor, lives in Delhi.
3. The students waiting outside are late.
4. The movie directed by Nolan was amazing.

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🎯 Learn Advanced Grammar with Sujyoti

At Sujyoti Language School, we help learners master grammar from A1 to C2, including advanced structures like:

• Relative clauses
• Nominalisation
• Inversion
• Mixed conditionals
• Academic writing & speaking

👉 Want to speak and write confidently?
Book your Free Demo Class here:
👉 https://slsapp.sujyoti.org/contact_us

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