Relative Part 2 - That, Defining and Non-defining

I. Defining relative clauses:

Defining relative clauses are necessary for the sentence to have complete meaning and for the listener to understand fully. We do not need comma (,) in defining relative clauses.

Example: Many children in the region are diagnosed of Ebola. They are now being treated.

Many children in the region who are diagnosed of Ebola are now being treated.

II. Non-defining relative clauses:

Non-defining relative clauses can be omitted and the sentence still has complete meaning and the listener can still understand fully. We need comma (,) in non-defining relative clauses.

Example: I talked to Claire. She is working for a law firm.

I talked to Claire, who is working for a law firm.

III. Omitting Whom, which and That:

We can omit whom, which and that (object) in defining relative clauses when there is no preposition before it.

Example: The boy is wearing a red T-shirt. I like him a lot.

The boy I like a lot is wearing a red T-shirt.

We are going abroad on a boat. I bought the boat last year.

We are going abroad on a boat I bought last year.

IV. That:

We often use that:

+ With superlatives:

Example: Landmark 81 has been built in Ho Chi Minh City. It is the highest building there.

Landmark 81 is the highest building that has been built in Ho Chi Minh City.

+ With the only thing, everything, anything, nothing:

Example: Having a normal family is the only thing that I wish for in life.

His parents give him everything that he wants.

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Related posts:

Relative Part 1 - Who, Whom, Which, That

Relative Part 3 - Whose, When, Where