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Les propositions relatives qualifient un nom (l'antécédent). Defining relative clauses (propositions relatives déterminatives) : indispensables au sens de la phrase. Pas de virgules. On peut utiliser who/that pour les personnes, which/that pour les choses, whose pour la possession, where pour les lieux, when pour le temps. Ex : 'The student who works hard will succeed.' Non-defining relative clauses (propositions relatives non déterminatives) : informations supplémentaires non essentielles. Séparées par des virgules. On utilise who (jamais 'that') pour les personnes, which (jamais 'that') pour les choses. Ex : 'My teacher, who is very experienced, helped me a lot.' Omission du pronom relatif : possible dans les relatives déterminatives quand c'est l'objet de la relative. Ex : 'The book (that) I read was excellent.' (that = objet de 'read', donc omissible)
Exercice 1 : Combinez les deux phrases en utilisant une proposition relative.
1. The man is my uncle. He lives next door.
2. I lost the book. I borrowed it from the library.
3. Dakar is a vibrant city. I was born there.
4. Leopold Senghor was a great poet. His works are studied worldwide.
Exercice 2 : Defining ou non-defining ? Ajoutez des virgules si nécessaire.
1. My brother who lives in France is an engineer.
2. Students who study regularly pass their exams.
What is the difference between a defining and a non-defining relative clause?
Correction
A defining relative clause identifies which specific person or thing we are talking about — removing it would change or destroy the meaning: 'The student who cheated was expelled.' A non-defining relative clause adds extra information about someone/something already identified — it can be removed without changing the core meaning: 'My sister, who lives in Ziguinchor, is a nurse.'
When can we omit the relative pronoun?
Correction
We can omit the relative pronoun in defining relative clauses when it is the object of the relative clause (not the subject). Example: 'The film (that) I watched was amazing.' — 'that' is the object of 'watched'. If the pronoun is the subject, it cannot be omitted: 'The man who called you is outside.'
Why can't we use 'that' in non-defining relative clauses?
Correction
'That' is used in defining clauses to specify or restrict the noun. Non-defining clauses add extra information (not identification), so 'who' and 'which' are required. Using 'that' in a non-defining clause is grammatically incorrect in standard written English.