Take a look at these sentences

• My teacher, whose mom is a lawyer, is blond.​

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• ​This is the teacher who I love!

Take a look at these sentences

• My teacher, whose mom is a lawyer, is blond.​ --> Non-defining relative clause

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• ​This is the teacher who I love! --> Defining relative clause

Defining relative clauses

What are they?

They are relative clauses that give information about​ the thing we are talking about

• They add CRUCIAL information!

• They DON'T go between commas​

Defining relative clauses

The information they add is needed to understand the sentence.​

• ​They're the people who are going to buy our house.

• They're the people who are going to buy our house​ --> doesn't make sense!

Non-defining relative clauses

What are they?

They are relative clauses that give EXTRA information.

• They go between commas

• We can leave out the information and the sentence will still make sense​

Non-defining relative clauses

Let's take a look at these examples​

• ​Clare, who I work with, is doing the London marathon this year.

• Clare, who I work with, is doing the London marathon this year. --> Still makes sense!​

Now, what are relative pronouns?

They introduce relative clauses

The most common are:

who, whom, whose, which, that

How do we know which one to use? --> it depends on what we are referring to.​

Remember them!​

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Take a look at these