What Are Relative Clauses?
Relative clauses are parts of a sentence that give more information about a noun. They often begin with relative pronouns like who, which, that, whose, whom, or where. For example:
The book that I borrowed from the library was very interesting.
Relative clauses can be divided into two main types: defining (restrictive) and non-defining (non-restrictive). The use of commas depends on which type of relative clause you are using.
Defining (Restrictive) Relative Clauses
Defining relative clauses provide essential information about the noun they describe. Without this information, the meaning of the sentence would be unclear or incomplete. In English, you do not use commas with defining relative clauses.
Examples:
- The student who studies hardest will win the scholarship.
- The house that Jack built is very old.
Notice that there are no commas before or after the relative clauses. The information is necessary to identify exactly which student or house is being referred to.
Non-defining (Non-restrictive) Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses add extra information about a noun that is already clear or specific. This information is not essential to the sentence’s meaning. In English, you must use commas to separate non-defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence.
Examples:
- My teacher, who is from Norway, speaks five languages.
- The book, which I borrowed from the library, was very interesting.
If you remove the non-defining relative clause, the sentence still makes sense and refers to the same person or thing. The commas signal that the added information is not essential.
Key Differences for Norwegian Learners
For Norwegian speakers learning English, it is important to note that Norwegian often uses different punctuation rules, and the distinction between defining and non-defining clauses is not always marked with commas in the same way. English relies on commas to clarify meaning, so mastering this can prevent misunderstandings in both written and spoken communication.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding commas to defining relative clauses:
Incorrect: The person, who called you, is my friend.
Correct: The person who called you is my friend. - Leaving out commas in non-defining clauses:
Incorrect: My brother who lives in Oslo is a doctor.
Correct: My brother, who lives in Oslo, is a doctor. - Using “that” in non-defining clauses:
In English, “that” is only used for defining clauses, not non-defining ones.
Incorrect: My car, that I bought last year, is blue.
Correct: My car, which I bought last year, is blue.
Helpful Tips for Mastery
- Ask yourself: Is the information in the clause essential? If not, use commas.
- Remember: Non-defining clauses can usually be removed without changing the main meaning of the sentence.
- Practice by rewriting sentences with and without commas to see how the meaning changes.
- Compare with Norwegian sentences and notice how English punctuation clarifies meaning.
Conclusion
Using commas correctly in relative clauses is a small but powerful skill for anyone learning English, especially Norwegian speakers. It helps avoid confusion and ensures your writing is clear and professional. For more grammar tips and language learning strategies, be sure to check out other articles on the Talkpal AI language learning blog. With practice, you will soon feel confident using commas in all your English sentences!
