Relative Clauses

It is an action movie which is about the Kowloon Walled City.

The action movie, which was released in May, is about the Kowloon Walled City.

What’s the difference?

It is an action moviewhich is about the Kowloon Walled City.

Defining Relative Clause

The information is necessary to

help us identify the subject

It is an action movie.

Without the information, you don’t know which

action movie I’m talking about.

The action movie, whichwas released in May, is about the Kowloon Walled City.

Non-defining Relative Clause

The information is unnecessary,

optional, not essential

The action movie is about the Kowloon Walled City.

Without the information, you can still identify

which action movie I’m talking about.

The action movies, some of which are quite violent, are popular in Hong Kong.

Non-defining Relative Clause

You can add

“none/one/both/some/a few/many/much/most + of”

before the relative pronouns (which & whom)

to show the quantity

Main Meaning: The action movies are popular in Hong Kong.

Extra information: some of the action movies are quite violent.

The action movie is about the Kowloon Walled City, which is rather unusual.

Non-defining Relative Clause

Extra, optional, not essential

information

Refer to the whole sentence,

the situation

It is an action movie which is about the Kowloon Walled City.

The action movie, which was released in May, is about the Kowloon Walled City.

What’s the difference?

What’s the difference?

It is an action movie which is about the Kowloon Walled City.

The action movie, which was released in May, is about the Kowloon Walled City.