Relative clause examples with commas (non-defining)

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 A non-defining relative clause provides extra information about a noun. This information isn't essential to the meaning of the sentence.
• ✍️ Non-defining relative clauses are always set off with commas.
• 🧑‍🏫 Common relative pronouns used in non-defining clauses are *who*, *which*, *whom*, and *whose*.
• 🌍 Non-defining relative clauses cannot use *that*.
• 💡 Removing a non-defining relative clause will not change the core meaning of the sentence.

Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence uses a non-defining relative clause correctly?
   1. My brother who lives in London is a doctor.
   2. My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor.
   3. My brother who lives in London, is a doctor.
   4. My brother, who lives in London is a doctor.
2. Identify the non-defining relative clause in the following sentence: "The book, which I borrowed from the library, was very interesting."
   1. The book
   2. which I borrowed from the library
   3. was very interesting
   4. The book, which I borrowed from the library, was very interesting.
3. Which relative pronoun is typically NOT used in non-defining relative clauses?
   1. Who
   2. Which
   3. That
   4. Whom
4. Which of the following sentences correctly uses commas with a non-defining relative clause?
   1. The car that I bought is red.
   2. The car, that I bought, is red.
   3. The car, which I bought, is red.
   4. The car which I bought is red.
5. "My cat, Whiskers, loves to sleep in the sun." What is the noun being modified by the non-defining relative clause?
   1. Sun
   2. Sleep
   3. Cat
   4. Whiskers
6. Choose the sentence that exemplifies a correct non-defining relative clause.
   1. The house that Jack built is old.
   2. The house, that Jack built, is old.
   3. The house which Jack built is old.
   4. The house, which Jack built, is old.
7. Which sentence incorrectly uses commas with a non-defining relative clause?
   1. My aunt, who is a teacher, lives nearby.
   2. The movie, which I saw last night, was great.
   3. His dog, that is a golden retriever, is very friendly.
   4. The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is a famous landmark.