Relative clauses — defining and non-defining · 限制性与非限制性定语从句
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.
两种定语从句
- 定语从句分限制性和非限制性两种。
- 区别在于这条信息是否必不可少。
- 逗号是关键的信号。
那只从不听指令的猫，吃掉了写着规则的纸条。
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)
限制性(必要,无逗号)
- 提供必要信息 —— 告诉你是哪一个。
- 不加逗号。
- （冠词）The 男人man （关系代词）who 打电话called 是is 我的my 老板boss.(打电话来的那个男人是我老板。)
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)
非限制性(额外,有逗号)
- 提供可以删去的额外信息。
- 用逗号把它隔开。
- 我的My 老板boss （关系代词）, who 是is 友善kind 打电话, called 我me.(我老板给我打了电话,他人很好。)
Do the commas matter here? · 这里的逗号重要吗?
No commas = the clause picks WHICH one; commas = the clause just adds a fact you could delete. · 没逗号 = 从句指明是哪一个;有逗号 = 只是补充一个可删的信息。
Extra (non-essential) information needs which punctuation? · 额外的(非必要)信息要用哪种标点?
Non-defining (extra) clauses are set off with commas. · 非限制性(额外)从句要用逗号隔开。
Translate into English: 我老板人很好,他给我打了电话。 · 翻译成英语: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.” · 额外信息 → 非限制性,逗号 + 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.
用 who / which,绝不用 that
- 非限制性从句用 who(人)或 which(物)。
- 绝不用 that,也不能省略关系代词。
- This book, which I read last year, is excellent.
Complete the non-defining clause: My phone, ___ is new, broke. (for a thing) · 补全非限制性从句:My phone, ___ is new, broke。(指物)
Non-defining + a thing → which (never “that”): “My phone, which is new, …”. · 非限制性 + 物 → which(绝不用 that):My phone, which is new, …。
Is this correct? “My boss, that is kind, called me.” · 这句对吗? “My boss, that is kind, called me.”
Non-defining clauses can't use “that”: use “who”: “My boss, who is kind, …”. · 非限制性从句不能用 that,要用 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.
常见错误
- ❌ My mother who lives in Beijing is kind. → ✓ My mother**, who** lives in Beijing**,** is kind。—— 独一无二的人 / 物必须用非限制性(加逗号),否则暗示"你有好几个妈妈"。
- ❌ He failed, it surprised us. → ✓ He failed**, which** surprised us。—— 逗号 + which 可指代前面整件事;逗号不能直接连两个句子。
- 非限制性从句三条铁律:不用 that、不能省略关系词、逗号成对。
Match each sentence to its clause type. · 把句子和从句类型配对。
No commas = tells you which one; commas = extra info; , which can point at the whole clause. · 无逗号=指明是哪一个;有逗号=补充信息;逗号 + which 可指代整句。
Is this correct? “My boss, that is kind, called me.” · 这句对吗? “My boss, that is kind, called me.”
Non-defining clauses never take that → My boss, who is kind, called me. · 非限制性从句绝不用 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".
- 限制性 = 必要,无逗号(who / which / that,可省略)。
- 非限制性 = 额外,有逗号(只用 who / which,绝不用 that,不省略)。
- 逗号表示这条信息是"顺便一提"。
Write one sentence with a non-defining relative clause (extra information inside commas, using who or which). · 写一句带非限制性定语从句的话(用逗号隔开的额外信息,用 who 或 which)。
Example: “Shanghai, which is a huge city, has great food.” · 例如:Shanghai, which is a huge city, has great food。