Difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses

Question

Hello! I just saw a video, but I got confused. The video said these sentences:

"The picture which hangs on the wall is old." (defining)
"The building, which is very old, needs repairing." (non-defining)

I don't see the difference. For example, if I just say:
"The picture is old", is the same than "The building needs repairing."
I don't know which is the picture we're talking about, the same with the building. Can someone explain me what is the difference? What is the reason that makes me understand "The building needs repairing" as a complete sentence that is giving extra details telling me that "it's very old", compared with "The picture is old", which is incomplete and needs more information like "hangs on the wall" to understand it?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

olive 1410I don't see the difference.

You are not supposed to compare the "picture" sentence with the "building" sentence. You compare each sentence in its two forms, with and without the commas. This matter is about the commas, mostly. Also, "which" is better reserved for the non-defining role, a point that your YouTuber ignored.

olive 1410"The picture which hangs on the wall is old." (defining)

I must say that is not the most natural sentence, but it will do for our purposes. So, which picture is old? The one on the wall, not any of the ones leaning against the pillar.

If we make it non-defining, it becomes "The picture, which hangs on the wall, is old." Which picture is old? We are supposed to know already. It is the picture under consideration. It just so happens that it is hanging on the wall. As I said, this is not a great sentence. The meaning is dopey.

olive 1410"The building, which is very old, needs repairing." (non-defining)

Which building needs repairing? It is the building we are already talking about. It happens to be old, incidentally.

If we make it defining, it becomes "The building which is very old needs repairing." Which building need repairing? It is the very old one, not any of the newer ones.

CalifJim · Answer

olive 1410 Difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses

Non-defining relative clauses

The reference to the antecedent is already completely known; the which-clause does not add any information which helps to specify what the antecedent refers to. Non-defining relative clauses are like parenthetical remarks. They always use "which", and they are always set off by commas.

1. The main attraction is the Dogsled Spectacular, which is a racing demonstration.
("the Dogsled Spectacular" completely specifies what the writer is talking about. The which-clause just explains parenthetically what the Dogsled Spectacular is for those readers who don't already know.)

2. The devices, which can't be removed, are relatively safe once they're implanted.
(The fact that the devices can't be removed is regarded as extra information, not as a way of identifying exactly which devices they are. This is not an attempt to talk about devices which can't be removed in opposition to devices which can be removed.)

3. She started a spice shop with the help of a loan, which she repaid with her small profit.
(There is no second or third loan which she did not repay with her profit. The main point is about starting a spice shop. The facts about how she repaid the loan do not specify anything about the loan itself, so they are parenthetical.)

Defining relative clauses

The referent of the antecedent is not completely known; the which-clause (or that-clause) adds more information that helps to specify more exactly what the antecedent refers to. Defining relative clauses use "that" or "which" and they are never set off by commas.

4. He wears comfortable clothes which/that make him look good.
(There could be other kinds of comfortable clothes, but this sentence refers only to the ones that make him look good. If the clothes don't make him look good, he doesn't wear them.)

5. Students are signing up for the classes which/that they want to take next year.
(There are other classes, but the only ones specified here are the classes that the students want to take next year.)

6. You may need a replacement for the medication which/that you're on.
(The sentence is not about just any medication. It specifies that the reference is only to a certain medication that you are taking.)

See https://www.englishforums.com/English/Default/bzmxxm/post.htm

CJ

Difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses

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