Cláusulas Restrictivas y No Restrictivas: Uso y Ejemplos

Clase 15 de 21 • Curso de Inglés Intermedio Alto B2: Suposiciones e Instrucciones

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Restrictive Clauses A restrictive clause restricts or defines the meaning of a noun or noun phrase and provides necessary information about the noun in the sentence. It is not separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. Restrictive clauses are more common in writing than nonrestrictive clauses. A restrictive clause is also sometimes referred to as an essential clause or phrase.

++Here are a few examples++:

  • The student who sits in the back of the room asks a lot of questions.
  • The results that I obtained may invoke positive social change.
  • The journalist whose story I read yesterday has won prizes for her work.

When the relative pronoun functions as the object of the sentence, it can (and usually is) omitted from the relative clause.

++Here are a few examples++:

  • The results that I obtained may invoke positive social change.
  • The article that I requested did not arrive on time.
  • The participants who I interviewed met me at the local library.

Nonrestrictive Clause A nonrestrictive clause adds additional information to a sentence. It is usually a proper noun or a common noun that refers to a unique person, thing, or event. It uses commas to show that the information is additional. The commas almost act like parentheses within the sentence. If the information between the commas is omitted, readers will still understand the overall meaning of the sentence. A nonrestrictive clause is also known as a nonessential clause or phrase.

Here are a few examples:

  • I want to thank my father, Mark Smith, for all of his love and support. With the nonrestrictive clause omitted: I want to thank my father for all of his love and support.

  • The hypothesis, which I tested throughout the research, was rejected. With the nonrestrictive clause omitted: The hypothesis was rejected.

  • I have found the article, which I have been looking for. With the nonrestrictive clause omitted: I have found the article.

Although "that" is sometimes used in restrictive clauses, it is not allowed in nonrestrictive clauses.

CORRECT: Minneapolis, which has a population of about 400,000, is the largest city in Minnesota. INCORRECT: Minneapolis, that has a population of about 400,000, is the largest city in Minnesota.

CORRECT: I had to fix my printer, which I bought less than a year ago. INCORRECT: I had to fix my printer, that I bought less than a year ago. A relative pronoun cannot be deleted in a nonrestrictive clause.

Reduced Relative Clauses In academic writing, relative clauses are often reduced for a more concise style. This also creates more sentence variety. When reducing a relative clause, it is necessary to delete the relative pronoun and either delete or change the verb. Here are some examples:

  • Gun control is a controversial issue that is about personal rights. ("be" + prepositional phrase)
  • The steps that were followed were explained in the Methods section. (passive)
  • Other researchers who are exploring the same topic have discovered similar solutions. (progressive verb tense)
  • Participants who were available to meet in my office completed their interview there. ("be" + "-able" adjective)
  • Some of the subjects lived in urban areas that had with high crime rates. ("have" as a main verb is replaced by "with")
  • In this paper, I reviewed many research articles that addressed addressing the topic of gun control. (linking verbs or verbs describing facts can be changed to "–ing" clauses)
  • The changes that are to be implemented with the new curriculum revisions are outlined in the handout. ("to" clauses)”

EXERCISE

Look at the following sentences. Complete them using a pronoun and then answer a question:

who, that, which, where, when, whose

  1. That's the closet _______ I keep my money.
  2. The city _______ I used to live in was not very small.
  3. The ladies _______ house I am staying at are very nice to me.
  4. Is this shop _______ you said you sold the climbing equipment?
  5. Here is the spot _______ my uncle always used to talk about.
  6. I am in need of a jacket _______ will keep me dry.
  7. The nurse _______ examined the patient was very delicate.
  8. I live in Australia, _______ is a heavily populated country.
  9. Mike has a class of students _______ native tongue is not Spanish.
  10. Last week, I saw an old friend _______ I hadn't seen for ages.

In which of these sentences can we omit the pronoun?

Answer key

  1. That's the closet where I keep my money.
  2. The city where I used to live in was not very small.
  3. The ladies whose house I am staying at are very nice to me.
  4. Is this shop where you said you sold the climbing equipment?
  5. Here is the spot that my uncle always used to talk about.
  6. I am in need of a jacket which will keep me dry.
  7. The nurse that examined the patient was very delicate.
  8. I live in Australia, which is a heavily populated country.
  9. Mike has a class of students whose native tongue is not Spanish.
  10. Last week, I saw an old friend that I hadn't seen for ages.

1, 2, 5, 10

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