My mother, who is a teacher, loves reading.
- Language
- English
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Relative and Participle Clauses
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Non-defining relative clauses are parts of a sentence that give extra information about a noun. This information is not essential to understand the main idea. These clauses are separated by commas.
When to use it
Use non-defining relative clauses to add extra, non-essential information about a person, thing, or place in your sentence.
Key forms
- who (for people): My brother, who lives in Paris, is visiting.
- which (for things): The book, which you gave me, is great.
- whose (for possession): Sarah, whose car is red, is my friend.
- where (for places): London, where I was born, is a big city.
Examples
The movie, which was very long, was interesting.
Mr. Smith, whose son is in my class, is very friendly.
Paris, where I spent my childhood, is beautiful.
Tips
- Always use commas before and after the non-defining relative clause.
- Do not use 'that' in non-defining relative clauses.
- The sentence is still correct if you remove the non-defining relative clause.
Word of the Day
Today's hand-picked vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation page for English. Bookmark this section — it refreshes every day.
Get one new word every morning
Subscribe to SmartWords daily picks. Choose the topics you want — we send one short email per day.
Keep exploring
Play SmartWords games
Six word games built around our real vocabulary — free in the browser, no install.
Open the game hub →-
Word Sling
Match the center word under time pressure and keep the combo alive.
Play now → -
Word Gate
Fly through the correct gate before the speed ramps up.
Play now → -
Word Ninja
Slice the goal-language words, avoid the main-language decoy, and chase the announced bonus target.
Play now → -
Word Zip
Trace a single path across the board, hit each letter anchor in order, and fill every open cell.
Play now → -
Word Oddity
Pick the word that doesn't belong from a topic-driven set — every tap reveals all four meanings and images so the round becomes a flash-card too.
Play now → -
Word Memory
Flip and match goal-language words to their main-language meaning before your lives run out.
Play now →