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Question

Wondering the difference between two sentences?My brother, who lives in Sacramento, buys very fresh strawberries.My brother who lives in Sacramento buys very fresh strawberries.

Ramonajk · Accepted Answer

The first one is correct.

LouiST · Answer

Both are correct!
But there's kind of another meaning:

My brother, who lives in Sacramento, buys very fresh strawberries.
This means that you only have one brother. So it's just an extra information.

My brother who lives in Sacramento buys very fresh strawberries.
This means you have more than just one, like: The one who lives in Sacramento buys very fresh strawberries. So it's actually not an an extra information, because it's for the understanding.

LS

CalifJim · Answer

louiSTSo it's actually not ~~an an~~ extra information, because it's for ~~the~~ understanding.

As shown.

Edit: Actually, "my brother, who lives in Sacramento, ... doesn't imply that there is only one brother. This can mean

One of my brothers, who lives in Sacramento, ...

CJ

Ramonajk · Answer

louiST is totally correct. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Dimsumexpress · Answer

louiSTMy brother, who lives in Sacramento, buys very fresh strawberries.This means that you only have one brother. So it's just an extra information.

louiSTMy brother who lives in Sacramento buys very fresh strawberries.This means you have more than just one, like: The one who lives in Sacramento buys very fresh strawberries. So it's actually not an an extra information, because it's for the understanding.

Sorry, I may be wrong, but I don't see it that way. The difference between the two is the commas which makes the first one non-restrictive, whereas the second one is a restrictive "who" clause, however, it contains no information to suggest he has more than one brother, implied, or otherwise. Try to verbalize this sentence in the natural intonation, one may not be able to tell them apart.
Consider these two sentences:
My cousin, who has a master degree in mechanical engineering, knows a lot about cars and fixes all the car problems in the family.

My cousin who has a master degree in mechanical engineering knows a lot about cars and and fixes all the car problems in the family.

The two are essentially the same. If I see the "who clause" as non-essential, I could set off the non-restrictive clause by a pair of commas before and after the green clause. But if I deem his academic credential is essential, then the "who clause" is essential to the main clause. That how I see it.

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