Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses

Question

Dear teachers,I hope you can give me a hand with the following. How do I know when Which or Who can be changed into THAT and the contrary as well?Peter read the report which showed the figures. Can  I change which for that?I am visiting the plant that was having production problems. Can I change THAT for WHICH? And please help me with the followibng exercise:B. Combine the sentences using defining or non-defining clauses. 1.That's the man. His project won the first prize. __________________________________________________2.I invest in Apple Co. It is a profitable company. _________________________________________________3.The magazine was very interesting. I bought one last weekend. ____________________________________4.The man is standing over there. I was telling you about him. ______________________________________5.Olga wrote a wonderful report. She worked very hard on it. _______________________________________6.That's the building. I work there. ____________________________________________________________7.The car was stolen. It was a BMW. ___________________________________________________________8.The man smoked forty cigarettes a day. He died of a heart attack. __________________________________9.The picture was beautiful. She was looking at it. _________________________________________________10.I must thank the people. They helped me a lot. _________________________________________________ Thanks!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Defining:

Referring to a person (or persons)

who or that

Not referring to a person (or persons)

which or that
___________________

Non-defining (Don't forget the comma):

Referring to a person (or persons)

, who (only)

Not referring to a person (or persons)

, which (only)

_________________________

As for the exercises, you should try to answer them first, and then we'll see where you need help.

CJ

Renan torres-rivero · Answer

Ok, here my answers:

B. Combine the sentences using defining or non-defining clauses.

CalifJim · Answer

1. That's the man. His project won the first prize
That's the man whose project won the first prize. (Def. C.) OK

2. I invest in Apple Co. It is a profitable company
I invest in Apple Co., which is a profitable company. (Non-def. C.) OK

3. The magazine was very interesting. I bought one last weekend
The magazine I bought last weeknd was very interesting. (Def. C) OK

4. The man is standing over there. I was telling you about him
The man I was telling you about is standing over there. (Def. C.) OK

5. Olga wrote a wonderful report. She worked very hard on it
Olga wrote a wonderful report, on which she worked hard. (Non-def. C.) OK

or ..., which she worked very hard on. (less formal)

6. That's the building. I work there.
That's the building where I work. (Def. C.) OK

7. The car was stolen. It was a BMW
The car which was stolen was a BMW. (Def. C.) OK

8. The man smoked forty cigarettes a day. He died of a heart attack
The man who smoked forty cigarettes a day died of a heart attack. (Def. C) OK

9. The picture was beautiful. She was looking at it
The picture she was looking at was beautiful. (Def. C.) OK

10. I must thank the people. They helped me a lot
I must thank the people that helped me a lot. (Def. C.) OK

Purists prefer who when there is a choice between who and that, so your teacher may want you to use who in #10.

CJ

Renan torres-rivero · Answer

Thanks for the corrections and remarks.

Now I'd like to go back to the original sentences. Are all of them using Defining Clauses?:

The woman *who "or"* that** is sitting in front of you now is a Junior Manager in our Headquarters.


The letter *that "or"* which** you sent to our customers last week contained
three spelling errors.

Peter read the report *that "or"* which** showed the figures.

I am visiting the plant *that "or"* which** was having production problems.

The chief spent some time with workers *who "or"* that** answered his questions.

I have been invited by a colleague *who "or"* that** has moved to Canada.

The person *who "or"* that "or" Ø** Anne introduced me to is keen on collecting postcards .

Where can I find a shop *that "or"* which** sells decent coffee?.

I have found many problems *that "or"* which** need to the solved.

I finally could speak to the clerk whose report helped me a lot in my Annual
Summary. Thanks in advance

CalifJim · Answer

renan torres-riveroNow I'd like to go back to the original sentences.

Hmm. In what sense are these the "original" ones? They don't look the same.

renan torres-riveroAre all of them using Defining Clauses?

Yes. And they're all fine.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

could you tell me if these sentences can be defining or non defining?

Peter hated eating by himself. He hoped to have lunch with Ann.

Peter, who hated eating by himself, hoped to have lunch with Ann.

Can this one be defining as well?

The Amazing Alarm was invented in 1882. It doesnt make any noise.

The Amazing Alarm, which was invented in 1882, doesnt make any noise.

The amazing alarm, which doesnt make any noise, was invented in 1882.

Anonymous · Answer

all are non-defining

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, they are all non-defining.

The nouns they refer to are all proper nouns.

When using common nouns (house, table, mice, etc) we are normally required to use defining clauses.

Cheers,

RENAN

Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses

I am visiting the plant that was having production problems. Can I change THAT for WHICH?

And please help me with the followibng exercise:

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Related Questions

1.	That's the man. His project won the first prize. __________________________________________________

2.	I invest in Apple Co. It is a profitable company. _________________________________________________

3.	The magazine was very interesting. I bought one last weekend. ____________________________________

4.	The man is standing over there. I was telling you about him. ______________________________________

5.	Olga wrote a wonderful report. She worked very hard on it. _______________________________________

6.	That's the building. I work there. ____________________________________________________________

7.	The car was stolen. It was a BMW. ___________________________________________________________

8.	The man smoked forty cigarettes a day. He died of a heart attack. __________________________________

9.	The picture was beautiful. She was looking at it. _________________________________________________

10.	I must thank the people. They helped me a lot. _________________________________________________