Relative Clauses 4
Extra Information Clauses · Type 1 vs Type 2 · Commas · that vs which — Complete Guide
Propositions Relatives 4
Relatives d'information · Type 1 vs Type 2 · Virgules · that vs which — Guide Complet
Understand the crucial difference between defining clauses (Type 1 — no commas, can use that) and non-defining clauses (Type 2 — commas required, that forbidden).
Comprenez la différence cruciale entre les relatives restrictives (Type 1 — pas de virgules, that possible) et les relatives non-restrictives (Type 2 — virgules obligatoires, that interdit).
There are two types of relative clause. Type 1 (defining/restrictive) tells you which person or thing is meant. Type 2 (non-defining/extra information) adds extra information about something already identified. The types differ in comma use and in whether that is allowed.
Il existe deux types de proposition relative. Le Type 1 (restrictif) indique quel objet ou personne est visé(e). Le Type 2 (non-restrictif) ajoute des informations sur quelque chose déjà identifié. Les deux types diffèrent dans l'emploi des virgules et dans la possibilité d'utiliser that.
Type 1 (Defining) vs Type 2 (Non-defining) — The Core Difference
Type 1 (Restrictif) vs Type 2 (Non-restrictif) — La Différence Fondamentale
Type 1 — Defining (no commas)
Type 1 — Restrictif (sans virgules)
Type 2 — Non-defining (commas required)
Type 2 — Non-restrictif (virgules obligatoires)
✓ My brother, who lives in London, is a teacher. (Type 2 → I have one brother; extra info: he lives in London) ✓ My brother who lives in London is a teacher. (Type 1 → J'ai plusieurs frères ; celui-là vit à Londres)
✓ My brother, who lives in London, is a teacher. (Type 2 → J'ai un seul frère ; info extra : il vit à Londres)
who / which / that — Different Rules per Type
who / which / that — Règles Différentes selon le Type
| Feature | Type 1 (Defining) | Type 2 (Non-defining) | Caractéristique | Type 1 (Restrictif) | Type 2 (Non-restrictif) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commas | ❌ No commas | ✅ Commas required | |||
| that | ✅ the company that makes furniture | ❌ NEVER that — ✗ | |||
| who / which | ✅ who or that for people; which or that for things | ✅ Only who for people; only which for things | |||
| Omit pronoun? | ✅ When object: the hotel (that) you recommended | ❌ NEVER omit: ✗ | |||
| whom | Rare (avoid) | ✅ Possible for object: Chris, whom I hadn't seen for ages |
My brother Ben, who lives in Hong Kong, is an architect. → Remove: My brother Ben is an architect. ✓ Still clear → Type 2. Peut-on supprimer la relative sans perdre l'identité du nom ? Si oui → Type 2 (virgules, pas de that).
Do you know anyone who/that speaks Chinese?
Grace works for a company which/that makes furniture.
We stayed at the hotel (that) you recommended. (object → optional)
Type 2 examples (commas, NO that, pronoun required):
John, who speaks French and Italian, works as a tour guide. (NOT: that speaks)
Anna told me about her new job, which she's enjoying a lot. (NOT: that she's enjoying)
We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend recommended. (NOT omittable) Exemples Type 1 (sans virgules, that autorisé) :
Do you know anyone who/that speaks Chinese?
Grace works for a company which/that makes furniture.
We stayed at the hotel (that) you recommended. (objet → facultatif)
Exemples Type 2 (virgules, PAS de that, pronom obligatoire) :
John, who speaks French and Italian, works as a tour guide. (PAS : that speaks)
Anna told me about her new job, which she's enjoying a lot. (PAS : that she's enjoying)
whose and where — Used in Both Types
whose et where — Utilisés dans les Deux Types
Whose and where work in both Type 1 and Type 2 relative clauses. The only difference is the commas.
Whose et where fonctionnent dans les deux types. La seule différence est les virgules.
Type 1 — whose / where
Type 1 — whose / where
Type 2 — whose / where (+ commas)
Type 2 — whose / where (+ virgules)
Type 1 or Type 2? Write 1 or 2 for each sentence.
Type 1 ou Type 2 ? Écrivez 1 ou 2 pour chaque phrase.
Type 1 = defining (no commas) · Type 2 = extra information (commas)
Type 1 = restrictive (sans virgules) · Type 2 = information extra (virgules)
Make one sentence using a Type 2 relative clause. Add commas.
Faites une phrase avec une relative de Type 2. Ajoutez les virgules.
Use who / which / whose / where
Utilisez who / which / whose / where
Are these sentences correct? Write OK or write the corrected sentence.
Ces phrases sont-elles correctes ? Écrivez OK ou corrigez-les.
Focus on the use of 'that' vs 'which' and comma placement.
Concentrez-vous sur l'emploi de 'that' vs 'which' et les virgules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions Fréquentes
This is a strict rule: that is only allowed in defining (Type 1) clauses. In non-defining (Type 2) clauses, you must use who (for people) or which (for things). ✗ John, that speaks Italian, is a guide. ✓ John, who speaks Italian, is a guide.
Règle stricte : that n'est autorisé que dans les relatives restrictives (Type 1). Dans les non-restrictives, utilisez who ou which.
No. In Type 2 clauses, who and which can never be omitted. ✗ We stayed at the Park Hotel, a friend recommended. ✓ We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend recommended.
Non. Dans les relatives de Type 2, who et which ne peuvent jamais être omis.
Yes, often dramatically! Compare:
• My sister who lives in Paris is a chef. (Type 1 → I have more than one sister; this one lives in Paris.)
• My sister, who lives in Paris, is a chef. (Type 2 → I have one sister; extra info: she lives in Paris.)
Oui, souvent de façon significative ! Les virgules signalent que le nom est déjà identifié.
Yes! ✓ This morning I met Chris, whom I hadn't seen for ages. 'Whom' is more common in Type 2 than in Type 1.
Oui ! ✓ This morning I met Chris, whom I hadn't seen for ages.
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