2月23日号：Restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses

Relative clauses allow us to combine two clauses (subject + verb phrase) into one sentence. We use a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose) to join the sentences. For example:

I went to the park. (Clause 1) + The park is next to the museum. (Clause 2)

? I went to the park that is next to the museum.

In English, there are restrictive relative clauses and nonrestrictive relative clauses. Today, let’s look at the difference between the two types of clauses.

A restrictive relative clause is used to describe or define a noun. The restrictive clause is necessary to understand the correct meaning of a sentence. For example:

◆ Please give this notebook to the man who is standing by the window.

◆ I talked to the woman whose father is an astronaut.

◆ The car my father drives is very old.

However, if we remove the restrictive relative clause, the meaning of the sentence is not clear.

◆ Please give this notebook to the man. (It’s not clear which man I should give it to)

◆ I talked to the woman. (It’s not clear which woman I talked to)

◆ The car is very old. (It’s not clear which car is very old)

A nonrestrictive relative clause is used to give extra information about a noun. A nonrestrictive relative clause is not necessary to understand the correct meaning of the sentence.

In spoken English, there is a pause before the nonrestrictive relative clause. In written English, there is a comma before a nonrestrictive relative clause. For example:

◆ My father, who lives in Sapporo, is retiring this year.

◆ I got a new job at a bank, which I’m starting next June.

◆ I found my wallet, which I’d lost the day before yesterday.

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英会話イーオン東京本社教務課コーディネーター。イーオン教師のトレーニングや英語セミナーを企画制作するカリスマ教師として活躍中。カリフォルニア大学バークレー校卒業。趣味は読書、料理、クラフトワーク。