Relative clauses — defining and non-defining · Phrases relatives — définissantes et non-définissantes
Two kinds of relative clause
- A relative clause can be defining or non-defining.
- The difference is whether the information is essential.
- Commas are the key signal.
The cat, which ignores instructions, ate the note that explained the rules.
Deux types de propositions relatives
- Une proposition relative peut être définissante ou non-définissante.
- La différence réside dans le fait que l'information soit essentielle.
- Les virgules sont le signal clé.
Le chat, qui ignore les instructions, a mangé la note expliquant les règles.
Defining (essential, no commas)
- Gives necessary information — tells you which one.
- No commas.
- The man who called you is my boss. (which man? the one who called)
Définissante (essentielle, sans virgules)
- Fournit des informations nécessaires — précise lequel.
- Pas de virgules.
- L'homme qui t'a appelé est mon patron. (lequel ? celui qui a appelé)
Non-defining (extra, commas)
- Gives extra information you could remove.
- Use commas around it.
- My boss, who is very kind, called me. (we already know who)
Non-définissante (complémentaire, avec virgules)
- Fournit des informations supplémentaires qu'on pourrait retirer.
- Utilisez des virgules autour.
- Mon patron, qui est très aimable, m'a appelé. (on sait déjà qui c'est)
Do the commas matter here? · Les virgules comptent ici ?
No commas = the clause picks WHICH one; commas = the clause just adds a fact you could delete. · Pas de virgules = la phrase indique QUELLE ; virgules = la phrase ajoute juste un fait que vous pourriez supprimer.
Extra (non-essential) information needs which punctuation? · Informations supplémentaires (non-essentielles) nécessitent quelle ponctuation ?
Non-defining (extra) clauses are set off with commas. · Les phrases relatives non-définissantes (supplémentaires) sont séparées par des virgules.
Translate into English: 我老板人很好,他给我打了电话。 · Traduisez en anglais : 我老板人很好,他给我打了电话。
Extra info → non-defining, commas + who: “My boss, who is very kind, called me.” · Infos supplémentaires → non-définissante, virgules + who : “My boss, who is very kind, called me.”
who / which, never that
- Non-defining clauses use who (people) or which (things).
- Never that, and you can't leave the pronoun out.
- This book, which I read last year, is excellent.
who / which, jamais that
- Les propositions non-définissantes utilisent who (personnes) ou which (choses).
- Jamais that, et on ne peut pas omettre le pronom.
- Ce livre, que j'ai lu l'année dernière, est excellent.
Complete the non-defining clause: My phone, ___ is new, broke. (for a thing) · Complétez la phrase relative non-définissante : My phone, ___ is new, broke. (pour un objet)
Non-defining + a thing → which (never “that”): “My phone, which is new, …”. · Non-définissant + un objet → which (jamais “that”) : “My phone, which is new, …”.
Is this correct? “My boss, that is kind, called me.” · C’est correct ? “My boss, that is kind, called me.”
Non-defining clauses can't use “that”: use “who”: “My boss, who is kind, …”. · Les phrases relatives non-définissantes ne peuvent pas utiliser “that” : utilisez “who” : “My boss, who is kind, …”.
Common mistakes
- ❌ My mother who lives in Beijing is kind. → ✓ My mother**, who** lives in Beijing**,** is kind. — unique things take commas.
- ❌ He failed, it surprised us. → ✓ He failed**, which** surprised us. — which can refer to the whole fact.
- Non-defining rules: never that, never drop the pronoun, commas in pairs.
Erreurs courantes
- ❌ My mother who lives in Beijing is kind. → ✓ Ma mère**, qui** vit à Pékin**,** est gentille. — les éléments uniques prennent des virgules.
- ❌ He failed, it surprised us. → ✓ Il a échoué**, ce qui** nous a surpris. — which peut se référer à l'ensemble du fait.
- Règles pour les non-définissantes : jamais that, jamais supprimer le pronom, virgules par paires.
Match each sentence to its clause type. · Reliez chaque phrase à son type de proposition.
No commas = tells you which one; commas = extra info; , which can point at the whole clause. · Pas de virgules = dit lequel ; virgules = info supplémentaire ; , which peut pointer vers l’ensemble de la clause.
Is this correct? “My boss, that is kind, called me.” · C’est correct ? “My boss, that is kind, called me.”
Non-defining clauses never take that → My boss, who is kind, called me. · Les propositions non-définissantes ne prennent jamais that → My boss, who is kind, called me.
- Defining = essential, no commas (who / which / that, can be omitted).
- Non-defining = extra, commas (who / which only, never that, never omitted).
- Commas tell you the information is "by the way".
- Définissante = essentielle, pas de virgules (who / which / that, peuvent être omises).
- Non-définissante = complémentaire, virgules (who / which uniquement, jamais that, jamais omises).
- Les virgules indiquent que l'information est « au passage ».
Write one sentence with a non-defining relative clause (extra information inside commas, using who or which). · Écrivez une phrase avec une phrase relative non-définissante (infos supplémentaires entre virgules, utilisant who ou which).
Example: “Shanghai, which is a huge city, has great food.” · Exemple : “Shanghai, which is a huge city, has great food.”