B1 · Intermedio Capítulo 11

Adding Extra Information and Formal Details

4 Reglas totales
43 ejemplos
7 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Elevate your communication by seamlessly weaving extra details and formal precision into your English sentences.

  • Distinguish between essential and non-essential information.
  • Apply commas correctly to structure complex thoughts.
  • Master formal prepositional phrasing to sound professional.
Add detail, gain clarity, sound professional.

Lo que aprenderás

Want to add rich detail and clarity to your English? This chapter shows you how to smoothly include extra information using commas and master formal language, so you can express complex ideas precisely and confidently.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use relative clauses to combine two short sentences into one fluid, detailed statement.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Employ formal prepositional structures in professional correspondence.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

As you navigate the B1 level in English, you're moving beyond basic sentences and starting to express more nuanced and complex ideas. This chapter is your key to unlocking that next level of clarity and sophistication. We're diving into the essential skills for adding extra information and formal details, which are crucial for sounding natural and precise, especially in written English or more formal spoken contexts.
Mastering these structures will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively, ensuring your message is always understood exactly as you intend.
You'll learn how to seamlessly weave in additional facts and explanations without making your sentences clunky or confusing. This isn't just about sounding fancy; it's about being clear and concise, whether you're describing a person, an object, or a situation. We'll explore different types of relative clauses – the building blocks for this kind of detail – and show you how to use commas to manage the flow of information.
This includes understanding the subtle yet powerful difference between essential and non-essential information.
Furthermore, we'll equip you with the tools to handle more formal language. This is vital for academic writing, professional emails, or even just impressing an English speaker with your command of the language. By the end of this guide, your B1 English grammar will feel much more robust, allowing you to articulate complex thoughts with confidence and precision, making your English sound truly advanced.

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of adding extra information and formal details are relative clauses. These are parts of a sentence that describe a noun, giving us more specific data about it. They typically start with words like who, whom, which, that, or whose.
The critical distinction here is between defining and non-defining relative clauses.
A defining relative clause provides essential information that pinpoints *which* specific noun you're talking about. If you remove it, the meaning of the main sentence changes or becomes unclear. For instance,
The student who answered the question correctly passed the exam.
Here,
who answered the question correctly
tells us *which* student.
We don't use commas with defining clauses, and we can often use that instead of who or which.
In contrast, a non-defining relative clause adds extra, non-essential information. It's like a bonus detail. The sentence would still make sense and identify the noun without it.
These clauses are always set off by commas. For example,
My brother, who lives in London, is visiting next week.
The main point is
My brother is visiting next week.
The fact that he lives in London is just additional info. You *must* use who for people and which for things in non-defining clauses; that is never used.
For more formal contexts, especially in writing, we often place prepositions *before* the relative pronoun. Instead of saying
The colleague I spoke *to*
, formal English prefers
The colleague to whom I spoke.
Similarly,
The project *which I am working on*
becomes
The project on which I am working.
This structure elevates the formality and precision of your language.
Finally, to describe quantities within a previously mentioned group, we use relative clauses with quantifiers. These are also non-defining and use commas. We say
quantifier + of + whom/which.
For instance,
I invited ten friends to the party, all of whom accepted.
Or,
She bought three books, none of which she had read before.
This allows you to elegantly provide specific details about a subgroup, enriching your descriptions without creating separate sentences.

Common Mistakes

Learning to correctly add extra information is vital for your B1 English grammar, but it's easy to make a few common errors.
  1. 1✗ Using 'that' in non-defining clauses or forgetting commas.
✗ My car, that is red, is fast.
✓ My car, which is red, is fast.
*Explanation:* Non-defining clauses, which add extra, non-essential details, always use which (for things) or who (for people) and are separated by commas. 'That' is only for defining clauses.
  1. 1✗ Incorrectly placing prepositions in formal relative clauses.
✗ The person who I sent the email to was out of office.
✓ The person to whom I sent the email was out of office.
*Explanation:* In formal English, prepositions should precede whom (for people) or which (for things).
  1. 1✗ Not using 'of whom'/'of which' correctly with quantifiers.
✗ I have two brothers, both who live abroad.
✓ I have two brothers, both of whom live abroad.
*Explanation:* When quantifying a previously mentioned group in a non-defining clause, use
quantifier + of whom
(for people) or
quantifier + of which
(for things) after a comma.

Real Conversations

A

A

Did you enjoy the concert last night?
B

B

Yes, it was fantastic! The lead singer, who has an incredible voice, really brought the house down. And the band, which had a new drummer, sounded tighter than ever.
A

A

"I'm finalizing the report for the CEO."
B

B

Right. Did you get the figures from Sarah?
A

A

Yes. The data, all of which was verified by her department, confirms our initial projections. The CEO, to whom I will present the findings directly, expects a thorough explanation.
A

A

Have you seen John recently?
B

B

"Oh, John? My old classmate, whom I haven't seen in ages, is actually coming to my party next week. He's bringing his new dog, which I hear is a Golden Retriever."

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use 'which' instead of 'that' when adding extra information?

You use which when the information is extra, or non-essential, and set off by commas. For example,

The new office, which is on the third floor, has great views.
If the information is essential to identify the noun, you use that (or which without commas), like
The office that is on the third floor has great views.

Q

What's the main difference between to whom and who...to?

To whom is a formal structure where the preposition comes before the relative pronoun, typically used in written English or very formal speech (e.g.,

The client to whom I sent the email
). Who...to is an informal and more common structure in everyday spoken English (e.g.,
The client who I sent the email to
). Both are grammatically correct but convey different levels of formality.

Q

Can I use all of that or none of that instead of all of which or none of which?

While all of that or none of that can be used in some contexts, particularly informally, when referring back to a *previously mentioned noun or clause* as part of a non-defining relative clause, you should use

all of which
or
none of which.
For example,
She mentioned several problems, all of which need attention.

Q

Why are commas so important when adding extra information with relative clauses?

Commas are crucial because they signal whether the information is essential or non-essential. Using them correctly prevents misunderstandings and makes your writing clearer. Incorrect comma usage can completely change the meaning or make a sentence ungrammatical.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these patterns constantly, though often unconsciously. The more formal structures (like prepositions before whom/which and quantifiers) are far more common in written English – reports, academic papers, formal emails – than in casual conversation. In daily speech, speakers tend to opt for simpler, less formal constructions like splitting the preposition from the relative pronoun or rephrasing entirely.
Understanding this distinction helps you sound natural whether you're chatting with a friend or writing a professional document.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

The profile that has the blue checkmark is the real one.

El perfil que tiene la marca azul es el verdadero.

Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas
2

My laptop, which I bought only last month, is already lagging.

Mi laptop, que compré el mes pasado, ya está lenta.

Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas
3

My brother, who lives in Sydney, is a fantastic surfer.

Mi hermano, que vive en Sídney, es un surfista fantástico.

Cláusulas no restrictivas: Añadiendo información extra (con comas)
4

The new restaurant, which opened last week, serves delicious vegan options.

El nuevo restaurante, que abrió la semana pasada, sirve deliciosas opciones veganas.

Cláusulas no restrictivas: Añadiendo información extra (con comas)
5

The professor, to whom I submitted my thesis, provided invaluable feedback.

El profesor, a quien presenté mi tesis, me proporcionó comentarios inestimables.

Preposiciones Formales en Cláusulas Relativas (to whom, for which)
6

This is the complex issue for which a solution is urgently needed.

Este es el problema complejo para el que se necesita una solución con urgencia.

Preposiciones Formales en Cláusulas Relativas (to whom, for which)
7

I have three brothers, all of whom are engineers.

Tengo tres hermanos, todos ellos ingenieros.

Cláusulas relativas con cuantificadores (all of whom, none of which)
8

He sent me ten emails, none of which I have read yet.

Me envió diez correos, ninguno de los cuales he leído aún.

Cláusulas relativas con cuantificadores (all of whom, none of which)

Consejos y trucos (4)

🎯

El truco de 'señalar con el dedo'

Si puedes señalar algo y decir '¡ESE!', es una cláusula definitoria. No necesitas comas. Por ejemplo: "The book that I'm reading is exciting."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas
💡

¡Las comas son tu guía!

Siempre recuerda las comas. Son la señal visual de que la información es extra y no define al sustantivo. Si puedes quitar la cláusula y la oración principal sigue teniendo sentido, necesitas comas. Piensa en:
My brother, who lives in Sydney, is a fantastic surfer.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas no restrictivas: Añadiendo información extra (con comas)
💡

Cuándo usar 'Whom'

Si puedes reemplazar el pronombre relativo con 'him' o 'her' en la cláusula, usa 'whom'. Si puedes usar 'he' o 'she', usa 'who'. Por ejemplo, 'to him' significa 'to whom'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preposiciones Formales en Cláusulas Relativas (to whom, for which)
⚠️

¡La coma es clave!

¡Nunca olvides la coma antes del cuantificador! Es como una pausa para que la frase no suene de corrido y se entienda bien:
I have five siblings, all of whom are older than me.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas relativas con cuantificadores (all of whom, none of which)

Vocabulario clave (5)

clause a part of a sentence containing a verb define to explain the nature or meaning of something formal appropriate for official or serious situations quantifier a word expressing amount, like all or none preposition a word showing relationship like to, for, or with

Real-World Preview

users

Professional Introduction

Review Summary

  • Noun + that/who + verb
  • Noun, + which/who + verb, + rest
  • Prep + whom/which
  • Quantifier + of + whom/which

Errores comunes

You don't need 'he' if 'who' already acts as the subject. The extra 'he' is redundant.

Wrong: My brother, who lives in Paris, he is a chef.
Correcto: My brother, who lives in Paris, is a chef.

When using a formal structure, the preposition moves to the front, and the object pronoun is removed.

Wrong: The person that I spoke to him was nice.
Correcto: The person to whom I spoke was nice.

Use 'which' or 'whom' to connect the clause to the main sentence, not 'them'.

Wrong: I have many books, all of them are new.
Correcto: I have many books, all of which are new.

Next Steps

You've unlocked a higher level of English precision! Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to use these structures in your daily writing.

Write a formal email to a professor describing your research interests.

Continue to: ¡Exprésate con naturalidad! Domina tus habilidades y peticiones

Práctica rápida (10)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración.

Find and fix the mistake:

The new cafe that has a rooftop terrace is very popular.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new cafe, which has a rooftop terrace, is very popular.
La cláusula 'has a rooftop terrace' añade información no esencial sobre 'the new cafe' (que es lo suficientemente único como para ser identificado por 'the new'). Por lo tanto, necesita comas, y 'which' debe usarse en lugar de 'that' en cláusulas no restrictivas.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas no restrictivas: Añadiendo información extra (con comas)

Completa el espacio en blanco con 'that' o 'which'. ¡Recuerda la regla de la coma!

Tokyo, ___ is the capital of Japan, is a huge city.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: which
Esta es una cláusula no definitoria (información extra sobre un lugar único), así que debemos usar 'which', nunca 'that'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas

¿Qué oración usa correctamente la estructura de cláusula relativa formal?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The regulations, about which they complained, were difficult.
En cláusulas relativas formales, la preposición precede a 'which' para cosas. 'That' no se usa en esta estructura formal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preposiciones Formales en Cláusulas Relativas (to whom, for which)

¿Qué oración implica que el hablante tiene más de un hermano?

Elige la oración correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My brother who lives in London is a doctor.
No usar comas significa que es una cláusula definitoria, que identifica *cuál* hermano de varios.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas

Encuentra el error en esta oración sobre una persona específica y ya conocida.

Find and fix the mistake:

Mr. Smith that is my teacher is very kind.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mr. Smith, who is my teacher, is very kind.
Como conocemos su nombre, la información es extra. Necesitamos comas y 'who' en lugar de 'that'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración formal.

Find and fix the mistake:

This is the objective to who we are striving.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the objective to which we are striving.
'Objective' es una cosa, por lo que se debe usar 'which'. 'Whom' es para personas. La preposición 'to' precede correctamente a 'which'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preposiciones Formales en Cláusulas Relativas (to whom, for which)

Elige la frase gramaticalmente correcta.

Choose the best sentence for a formal essay:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She wrote five books, all of which are famous.
Esta frase usa el pronombre relativo correcto ('which' para libros) e incluye la coma necesaria.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas relativas con cuantificadores (all of whom, none of which)

Elige el pronombre relativo y la puntuación correctos.

My best friend ___ is a brilliant artist, just had her first exhibition.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: , who
Como 'my best friend' ya está identificado, la cláusula 'is a brilliant artist' añade información extra, no esencial. Por lo tanto, necesita ir entre comas, y 'who' se usa para personas.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas no restrictivas: Añadiendo información extra (con comas)

Completa el espacio en blanco con el pronombre relativo correcto.

I have two best friends, both of ___ live in London.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: whom
Usamos 'whom' porque nos referimos a personas (amigos).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas relativas con cuantificadores (all of whom, none of which)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

I have many unread notifications, some of who are from Instagram.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: some of which are from Instagram.
Las notificaciones son cosas, así que debemos usar 'which' en lugar de 'who'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas relativas con cuantificadores (all of whom, none of which)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Las cláusulas definitorias te dicen *cuál* es el objeto o persona de la que hablas (esencial). Las no definitorias solo dan información extra sobre algo que ya conoces (un 'bonus'). Por ejemplo, 'The student who studied hard passed the exam' (definitoria) vs. 'My friend John, who studied hard, passed the exam' (no definitoria).
Siempre usa comas para las cláusulas no definitorias. Piensa en ellas como 'paréntesis' que encierran la información adicional. Por ejemplo: 'My car, which is red, is parked outside'.
Añade información extra, no esencial, sobre un sustantivo que ya está claramente identificado. Piensa en ello como una nota al margen útil o un detalle adicional, no algo crucial para entender de quién o de qué estás hablando. Por ejemplo:
My dog, whose name is Loki, loves chasing squirrels.
Loki ya es mi perro, el nombre es un extra.
La forma más fácil es buscar las comas. Las cláusulas no restrictivas siempre van entre comas. Además, intenta quitar la cláusula; si la oración principal sigue teniendo perfecto sentido, es no restrictiva. Por ejemplo, en
My brother, who lives in Paris, is a doctor.
, si quitas 'who lives in Paris', la frase
My brother is a doctor.
sigue siendo completa.
'Who' actúa como sujeto (como 'he' o 'she'), mientras que 'whom' actúa como objeto (como 'him' o 'her'). En cláusulas formales con una preposición antes, siempre se usa 'whom', por ejemplo, 'to whom'.
Aprender esta estructura te permite comunicarte con mayor precisión y formalidad, lo cual es esencial en la escritura académica, entornos profesionales y cuando quieres dar una impresión sofisticada, por ejemplo, 'the report for which I was responsible'.
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