Nicht-definierende Relativsätze: Zusätzliche Informationen (mit Kommas)
extra, und that ist hier tabu.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Non-defining clauses add extra, non-essential information about a noun using commas and relative pronouns like 'who' or 'which'.
- Always use commas to separate the extra info from the main sentence: 'My brother, who lives in Paris, is a chef.'
- Never use the word 'that' in these clauses; stick to 'who', 'which', 'whose', or 'where'.
- The sentence must still make perfect sense if you remove the entire clause between the commas.
Overview
Non-Defining Relative Clauses, und sie haben einen sehr strengen, sehr wichtigen Charakterzug: Sie verlangen Kommas. Wenn du die Kommas vergisst, erleidet der Satz praktisch einen Nervenzusammenbruch.non-defining clause vor dir. Es ist der ultimative Weg, anspruchsvoll zu klingen, während man über die 17 Katzen des Nachbarn lästert.Non-defining relative clauses sind im Wesentlichen „Bonus“-Informationen. Sie verraten dir mehr über eine Person, eine Sache oder einen Ort, aber sie sind nicht lebensnotwendig, um zu identifizieren, über wen oder was du gerade sprichst. Stell dir vor, du erzählst einem Freund von deiner Schwester.My sister, who lives in Tokyo, is coming to visit einen non-defining clause. Dein Freund weiß bereits, welche Schwester du meinst, weil du nur eine hast! Die Tatsache, dass sie in Tokio lebt, ist einfach nur ein cooles Extra-Detail für den Group-Chat.How This Grammar Works
non-defining sein. Warum?Paris, which is the capital of France, is beautiful. Wir alle wissen, was Paris ist.who, which, where und whose. Aber hier ist die goldene Regel: Du darfst NIEMALS that in einem non-defining clause verwenden.The book, which I finished last night, was boring. Du brauchst dieses Pronomen als Brücke für deine Extra-Info.that nicht steht.
Formation Pattern
My mom, Netflix, London).
who für Personen, which für Dinge, where für Orte und whose für Besitz.
My laptop (1), (2) which (3) I bought only last month (4), (5) is already acting like it's 100 years old (6). Es ist ein einfacher Fluss, sobald du die „Komma-Sandwich“-Technik erst einmal raus hast!
When To Use It
My former boss, who recently started her own company, is hiring. Oder eine Instagram-Caption: This sunset, which I caught just before the rain started, was magical. Es ist perfekt für Travel-Vlogging, wenn du eine Sehenswürdigkeit beschreiben willst: The Colosseum, where gladiators used to fight, is even bigger in person. Es taucht auch ständig in Netflix-Untertiteln oder Berichten auf, um Hintergrundinfos zu Charakteren oder Ereignissen zu liefern. Im Grunde genommen ist ein non-defining relative clause dein bester Freund, wann immer du „übrigens“ oder „wie du vielleicht weißt“ sagen möchtest.
Common Mistakes
that. Merk dir: that ist nur für lebensnotwendige Infos da. Du kannst nicht sagen: My dog, that is a pug, is sleeping. Es muss heißen: My dog, which is a pug, is sleeping. (Eigentlich benutzen wir für Haustiere mit Namen oft who, weil wir sie so lieb haben!). Eine weitere Falle ist der Versuch, das Pronomen zu löschen. Während du who oder which in anderen Arten von Teilsätzen oft weglassen kannst, musst du sie hier behalten. My car, I bought last year, is fast ist ein totaler Reinfall. Du brauchst dieses which. Und zu guter Letzt: Vergiss nicht das zweite Komma! Viele Leute fangen den Teilsatz mit einem Komma an, vergessen aber, ihn wieder zu schließen, sodass die Extra-Info einfach so im Raum hängt. Das ist so, als würde man nur eine Seite einer Klammer schließen – es fühlt sich einfach falsch an. Wie wenn man das Haus mit nur einem Schuh an den Füßen verlässt; die Leute werden es merken, und es wird unangenehm sein.Contrast With Similar Patterns
defining clause ist die Information zu 100 % notwendig. Wenn du sie entfernst, wissen wir nicht, über wen oder was du sprichst.The man who lives next door is a spy. Wenn du who lives next door entfernst, sagst du nur: „The man is a spy.“ Welcher Mann? Niemand weiß es! Hier werden keine Kommas verwendet.non-defining Version: Mr. Smith, who lives next door, is a spy. Wir wissen bereits, dass es Mr. Smith ist.non-defining. Denk auch an die that-Regel: Defining clauses lieben that (The phone that I want is expensive), aber non-defining clauses hassen es.Quick FAQ
Kann ich whoever oder whichever benutzen?
Nicht wirklich. Die sind für andere Strukturen gedacht. Bleib bei den Grundlagen: who, which, where und whose für diese speziellen „Extra-Info“-Sätze.
Was ist, wenn die Extra-Info am Ende des Satzes steht?
Ganz einfach! Du brauchst nur ein Komma vor dem Pronomen und einen Punkt am Ende. So wie hier: I'm going to visit London, which is my favorite city.
Ist es okay, who für Tiere zu benutzen?
Wenn das Tier einen Namen hat oder du eine persönliche Verbindung zu ihm spürst – nur zu! Wenn es nur „eine Spinne“ oder „der Vogel“ ist, ist which sicherer.
Klingt das zu formell?
Ganz und gar nicht! Es lässt dich einfach nur wortgewandt klingen. Selbst in lockeren Nachrichten kann ein kurzer which-Satz deinen Punkt klarer machen.
Warum kann ich that nicht benutzen?
Ehrlich gesagt? Es ist einfach eine dieser englischen „Weil-ich-es-sage“-Regeln. Grammatiker haben vor langer Zeit entschieden, dass that nur für essenzielle Infos da ist, und seitdem sitzen wir darauf fest. Akzeptiere einfach das which!
Memory Trick
Stell dir die Kommas als „Die Griffe“ vor. Genau wie ein Korb zwei Griffe hat, mit denen man ihn aufheben und bewegen kann, hat ein non-defining clause zwei Kommas, mit denen du die Extra-Informationen aufheben und aus dem Satz „herausheben“ kannst. Wenn der Satz immer noch perfekt für sich alleine steht, nachdem du den Korb „gehoben“ hast, dann gehörten die Kommas genau dorthin!
Relative Pronoun Selection
| Target | Pronoun | Example Clause |
|---|---|---|
|
People
|
who
|
, who lives next door,
|
|
Things/Animals
|
which
|
, which cost $50,
|
|
Possession
|
whose
|
, whose car was stolen,
|
|
Places
|
where
|
, where we met,
|
|
Time
|
when
|
, when the sun sets,
|
|
Whole Sentences
|
which
|
, which is why I'm late.
|
Meanings
A non-defining relative clause provides additional information about a person, thing, or place that is already clearly identified. It is not essential for the sentence to be understood.
Adding info about people
Using 'who' to provide biographical or situational details about a specific person.
“Mr. Smith, who is 70 years old, still goes jogging every morning.”
“My sister, who you met yesterday, is moving to Canada.”
Adding info about things
Using 'which' to describe an object or concept that has already been named.
“The Taj Mahal, which was built in the 17th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.”
“My new phone, which cost a fortune, is already broken.”
Possession with 'whose'
Adding extra info about who something belongs to.
“The neighbor, whose dog barks all night, is actually very nice.”
“The company, whose profits have doubled, is hiring new staff.”
Adding info about places
Using 'where' to give extra context about a location.
“Paris, where I spent my honeymoon, is beautiful in the spring.”
“The local park, where we used to play football, has been closed.”
Commenting on a whole sentence
Using 'which' after a comma to comment on the entire preceding clause.
“He arrived late, which was very rude.”
“She passed the exam, which surprised everyone.”
Reference Table
| Relativpronomen | Bezieht sich auf | Beispiel (nicht-notwendig) | Beispiel (notwendig) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
who
|
Personen
|
My sister, who lives in Canada, is visiting soon.
|
The student who aced the exam got a scholarship.
|
|
whom
|
Personen (Objekt, formell)
|
The CEO, whom I met yesterday, was very approachable.
|
The person whom you spoke to earlier has left.
|
|
whose
|
Besitz (Personen/Dinge)
|
My dog, whose name is Loki, loves chasing squirrels.
|
I know a guy whose car is electric.
|
|
which
|
Dinge/Ideen
|
The new café, which has amazing pastries, is always busy.
|
The book which I borrowed from you is fantastic.
|
|
where
|
Orte
|
London, where I grew up, is a vibrant city.
|
The park where we first met is beautiful.
|
|
when
|
Zeitpunkte
|
Next Tuesday, when the new movie comes out, I'm going.
|
I remember the day when we graduated.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
My brother, who resides in London, is a medical practitioner. (Family description)
My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor. (Family description)
My brother, who's living in London now, is a doctor. (Family description)
My bro, who's up in London, is a doc. (Family description)
Nicht-notwendige Relativsätze: Die "Bonus-Info"-Karte
Hauptmerkmale
- Kommas Immer Kommas benutzen!
- Weglassbar Satz ergibt auch ohne Sinn
- Kein "That" Hier niemals 'that' benutzen
Relativpronomen
- Who Für Personen
- Which Für Dinge/Ideen
- Whose Für Besitz
- Where Für Orte
- When Für Zeitpunkte
Zweck
- Details hinzufügen Mehr Kontext geben
- Randnotizen Meinungen/Kommentare anbieten
- Sprache bereichern Natürlicher klingen
Notwendig vs. Nicht-notwendig: Finde den Unterschied!
Dein Relativsatz-Wegweiser: Eine Kurzanleitung
Ist die Information essenziell, um das Nomen zu identifizieren?
Bezieht sich der Satzteil auf eine Person?
Bezieht sich der Satzteil auf eine Sache oder Idee?
Zeigt der Satzteil Besitz an?
Bezieht sich der Satzteil auf einen Ort?
Bezieht sich der Satzteil auf eine Zeit?
Pronomen für nicht-notwendige Relativsätze
Für Personen
- • who
- • whom (formal)
- • whose
Für Dinge/Ideen
- • which
- • whose
Für Orte
- • where
Für Zeitpunkte
- • when
Beispiele nach Niveau
My dad, who is a teacher, is nice.
London, which is big, is in England.
My car, which is red, is fast.
Sarah, who is my friend, is here.
My house, which has three bedrooms, is old.
The teacher, who is very kind, helped me.
Paris, where the Eiffel Tower is, is beautiful.
My brother, whose name is Tom, is a doctor.
The new shopping mall, which opened last week, is huge.
My boss, who travels a lot, is in New York now.
The movie, which we saw yesterday, was quite boring.
Italy, where my parents were born, is a sunny country.
The company, which was founded in 1920, is going bankrupt.
He forgot my birthday, which made me very angry.
The scientist, whose research is famous, won a prize.
The hotel, where we stayed for two weeks, was excellent.
The proposal, which the board rejected yesterday, was very detailed.
The city, the history of which is fascinating, attracts many tourists.
The witness, who had been silent until then, finally spoke.
The project, which I have been working on for months, is finally finished.
The Prime Minister, whose popularity has waned recently, faces a challenge.
The cathedral, the construction of which took 200 years, is a masterpiece.
He was unable to attend, which, given the circumstances, was understandable.
The theory, which has been widely criticized, remains influential.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners don't know when to use commas and when not to.
Learners want to use 'that' in all relative clauses.
Häufige Fehler
My brother that is tall is here.
My brother, who is tall, is here.
London which is big is in England.
London, which is big, is in England.
My car, that I bought last year, is broken.
My car, which I bought last year, is broken.
The city where I was born in is beautiful.
The city, where I was born, is beautiful.
Satzmuster
[Proper Name], who ___, is ___.
[Specific Object], which ___, was ___.
[Clause], which ___.
Real World Usage
The President, who is 78, arrived today.
My cat, which is literally a demon, just broke my vase.
My last project, which I led for six months, was a success.
The hotel, where we stayed last summer, has closed down.
I saw Sarah, who says hi btw.
This theory, which was developed in 1920, is still used.
Kommas sind dein Wegweiser
My car, which is red, is parked outside.
"That" ist hier ein No-Go!
that in einem nicht-notwendigen Relativsatz. Das ist ein häufiger Fehler. Bleib bei who, which, whose, where oder when. The movie, that I saw, was great.(falsch)
Lies laut vor für den Flow
My brother, who lives in Berlin, is a chef.
Peppe deine Geschichten auf
My friend, who is a fantastic storyteller, told us a wild adventure.
Smart Tips
Always use commas. Since the name already identifies them, any extra info is by definition 'non-defining'.
Use ', which' at the end of your sentence to add a comment.
Make sure the place is a setting. If you are describing the place as an object, use 'which'.
Combine them! Use a non-defining clause to turn two boring sentences into one interesting one.
Aussprache
The Comma Pause
In speech, there is a slight pause and a drop in pitch at each comma.
Parenthetical Dip
The car, ↘ which was red, ↗ is mine.
The lower pitch indicates the information is secondary.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Commas are like handles on a suitcase: they hold the extra stuff you're carrying.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a 'comma sandwich'. The two commas are the bread, and the extra information is the delicious filling. Without the bread, the filling falls out and makes a mess!
Rhyme
If the info is just a plus, use a comma and don't make a fuss.
Story
A detective is describing a suspect. 'The man is tall.' (Boring). 'The man, who was wearing a red hat, is tall.' The red hat is the extra clue that helps the story but isn't the main point.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at three objects in your room. Write one sentence for each using a non-defining clause (e.g., 'My laptop, which I bought last year, is on the desk.').
Kulturelle Hinweise
British speakers are often very strict about using 'which' for non-defining clauses and 'that' for defining ones.
News outlets like the BBC or NYT use these clauses to provide titles and ages efficiently.
Non-defining clauses are used to cite sources or provide definitions without stopping the flow.
Relative clauses in English evolved from demonstrative pronouns in Old English.
Gesprächseinstiege
Tell me about your best friend, who I haven't met yet.
What is your favorite city, which you've visited recently?
Tell me about your first car, which you probably don't have anymore.
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
My best friend ___ is a brilliant artist, just had her first exhibition.
Find and fix the mistake:
The new cafe that has a rooftop terrace is very popular.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesWhich sentence is punctuated correctly?
Paris, ___ is the capital of France, is beautiful.
Find and fix the mistake:
My car, that I bought last week, is already broken.
Mr. Jones is our neighbor. He is 80 years old.
You can use 'that' in a non-defining relative clause.
The book, which I finished yesterday, was great.
Match the following:
my / which / is / old / car / , / red / , / is
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMy phone ___ I bought last year, is already acting up.
My boss, that is usually very strict, was surprisingly lenient today.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Mi hermana, que vive en Madrid, viene a visitarme.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct non-defining clause:
The concert, ___ tickets sold out in minutes, was spectacular.
The movie, I watched last night, was incredibly boring.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'El lunes, cuando tengo mi examen final, estaré muy estresado.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the main clause beginnings with appropriate non-defining clause endings:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, never. In English, 'that' is strictly for defining clauses. If you have commas, you must use 'who' or 'which'.
It creates a 'run-on' feeling and can confuse the reader about where the main verb of the sentence is.
Yes, in very formal writing, 'whom' is used if the person is the object of the clause: 'My boss, whom I respect, is leaving.'
Yes! This is called a sentential relative clause. Example: 'He was late, which was annoying.'
You only need the first comma. Example: 'I live in London, which is a big city.'
Try the 'Deletion Test'. If you remove it and the sentence still identifies the noun clearly, it's extra (non-defining).
Yes, for places. 'My school, where I studied for 5 years, is closing.'
It is very common in both, but you will see much longer and more complex ones in formal writing.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Oraciones de relativo explicativas
Spanish uses 'que' for both; English requires 'which/who' and forbids 'that'.
Relativsätze
German always uses commas; English only uses them for non-defining clauses.
Propositions subordonnées relatives
French 'que' is used for objects, while English uses 'which' or 'who(m)'.
連体修飾節 (Rentai shuushikusetsu)
Japanese has no relative pronouns and the clause precedes the noun.
الصلة (Al-Sila)
Arabic relative pronouns change based on gender and number, and the definite/indefinite distinction is crucial.
的 (de) structure
Chinese puts all descriptions before the noun using 'de'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Verwandte Videos
06:36 Why fire "season" doesn't end
07:59 This Is Where We’re Gonna Bury The ISS
05:21 Why are there two tides a day? - Elise Cutts
Relative Clauses (Defining & Non-Defining) | EasyTeaching
EasyTeaching
Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses - English Grammar Lesson
Oxford English Now
Reduced Relative Clauses - Defining and Non- Defining Relative Clauses - Advanced Grammar Lesson
Oxford English Now
Related Grammar Rules
Relativsätze: Bestimmend vs. Nicht-bestimmend (Meaning Difference)
Overview Stell dir vor, du scrollst durch deinen Instagram-Feed. Du siehst einen Post von einem Freund, der zwei Katzen...
Relativadverb: 'Where' für Orte
Overview Hast du jemals versucht, einem Freund von dieser tollen Pizzeria zu erzählen, bist aber mitten im Satz steckeng...
Formelle Relativsätze (in welchem, wem)
### Overview Stell dir vor, du sitzt in einem wichtigen Meeting im Büro oder schreibst eine wissenschaftliche Hausarbei...
Sätze kürzen: Reduzierte Relativsätze
### Overview Stell dir vor, du sitzt in einem Meeting oder schreibst eine wichtige E-Mail an einen internationalen Kund...
Whose: Besitz anzeigen
### Overview Das Wort `whose` spielt eine zentrale Rolle als **possessives Relativpronomen** im Englischen. Seine Haupt...
