Relative Clauses: Defining and Non-Defining with Examples
Understand defining and non-defining relative clauses, use commas accurately and choose who, which, whose and that in clear examples.
A defining relative clause identifies which person or thing you mean. A non-defining clause adds extra information about someone or something already identified. Use commas around the extra information, but not around an identifying clause.
Decide whether the information identifies the noun
Imagine several suitcases. The suitcase that has an orange tag tells your listener which one to collect. Remove that clause and the instruction becomes unclear. Compare My suitcase, which has an orange tag, is beside the door: the speaker treats the suitcase as already identified.
Choose a pronoun that fits
Use who for people, which for things, and whose for possession. In defining clauses, that can replace who or which. In non-defining clauses, use who or which instead of that. Put the clause directly after the noun it describes so readers can follow the connection.
Keep or omit the object pronoun
You can leave out a relative pronoun when it is the object of a defining clause: The guide we hired was helpful. We is the subject of hired. Keep the pronoun when it is the subject: The guide who met us was helpful. Non-defining clauses keep their pronouns.
Check commas and repeated subjects
If the extra-information clause comes inside a sentence, mark both ends with commas. If it finishes the sentence, use a comma before it and finish with the normal punctuation. Avoid repeating the subject inside the clause: write the colleague who speaks French, not the colleague who she speaks French.
Original everyday examples
Identifying information
The traveller who needs assistance is waiting.
The bag that I packed is small.
Extra information and possession
Lerato, who works nearby, can help.
The passenger whose ticket is missing is at the desk.
Small clause choices that make a description clearer
Identify the person or thing
The guide who met us at the station was helpful identifies the guide. That can also introduce a defining clause, and whose links a person to something they own.
Keep a subject, but omit an object when it fits
The guide we hired was helpful can omit the object pronoun. The guide who lives nearby needs who because it is the subject of lives.
Mark extra information
Our guide, who lives nearby, met us at the station adds information about an already identified guide. In this standard non-defining pattern, use who rather than that.
Related guides
Continue with question tags, reported speech.
Commas and pronouns carry meaning
Commas for additional information
Defining clauses identify the person or thing and normally have no commas. Non-defining clauses add extra information and are separated by commas.
Pronouns in non-defining clauses
Do not use that to introduce a non-defining relative clause. Use who for people or which for things in the examples taught here.
Omitting an object pronoun
You can omit an object relative pronoun in a defining clause. Keep a subject relative pronoun, and keep pronouns in non-defining clauses.
Further reading
British Council: defining relative clauses; British Council: non-defining relative clauses. References checked on 11 October 2026. Explanations, examples, tasks, timing and adaptations on this page are original editorial suggestions.
Keep useful English in practice
Explore Grammar Practice and save useful examples in your Word Vault for review.
