Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Defining clauses identify exactly who/what you mean; non-defining clauses just add extra details using commas.
- Defining: No commas, 'that' is okay, essential for meaning. Example: 'The car that I bought is red.'
- Non-Defining: Use commas, 'that' is NOT okay, extra info only. Example: 'My car, which is red, is fast.'
- Omission: In defining clauses, you can drop 'who/which/that' if it's the object. Example: 'The book (that) I read.'
Overview
The cat that is white is so moody, está usando una oración de relativo especificativa (defining relative clause). ¿Por qué? ¡Porque sin la parte that is white, no sabrías de qué gato está hablando!My cat, which is white, is so moody, eso es una oración de relativo explicativa (non-defining relative clause). El hecho de que el gato sea blanco es solo un detalle extra.How This Grammar Works
The movie that we watched last night was awesome, la parte that we watched last night es el puntero láser. Te dice exactamente a qué película me refiero. Si la quito y solo digo The movie was awesome, me dirías: "¿Qué película, tío?Inception, which we watched last night, was awesome, ya sabes que la película es *Inception*.Inception was awesome sigue teniendo todo el sentido.¡Oye, puedes saltarte esta parte si tienes prisa!. Sin comas, la información se trata como combustible esencial para el motor de la frase.
My girlfriend who lives in London is coming to visit implica que tienes otras novias en otras ciudades (¡movimiento arriesgado!), mientras que My girlfriend, who lives in London, is coming to visit simplemente nos dice dónde vive tu única novia.
Formation Pattern
the laptop, my boss).
who o that (Especificativa) o *solo* who (Explicativa).
which o that (Especificativa) o *solo* which (Explicativa).
that es un poco casero. Solo vive en oraciones especificativas. Nunca va a las explicativas.
I, you, we), a menudo puedes borrarlo por completo (The phone [that] I bought). En las explicativas, el pronombre es obligatorio. Es el VIP que nunca se va de la fiesta.
When To Use It
I want the burger that has no onions, esa parte es 100% necesaria.The hotel that we stayed at was trash, o para quejarte de la tecnología: The update that I downloaded broke my phone.Sarah, who has ten years of experience in marketing, joined our team. Ya sabes que es Sarah.Paris) o una relación única (my mother). Si estás cotilleando sobre un famoso, dirías: Taylor Swift, who is currently on tour, just released a new album. Sabemos quién es Taylor; lo de la gira es solo un por cierto.
Common Mistakes
- El drama de la coma: Olvidar las comas en una cláusula explicativa es el error nº 1. Escribir
My dad who is a doctor lives in Berlinsugiere que tienes varios padres y estás identificando al médico. A menos que tengas una dinámica familiar muy moderna, probablemente necesites esas comas:My dad, who is a doctor, lives in Berlin. - La trampa del 'That': Usar
thaten una cláusula explicativa. No puedes decir:✗ Paris, that I love, is beautiful.Suena como un fallo en Matrix. Usawhichen su lugar:✓ Paris, which I love, is beautiful. - La confusión del 'Who': A veces la gente usa
whichpara personas. ¡No lo hagas!✗ The guy which lives next doores un gran error. Es✓ The guy who lives next door. - Sujetos dobles: Añadir un pronombre extra después de la cláusula.
✗ The car that I bought it is fast.¡No necesitas elit! El pronombre relativothatya hace la función de objeto. Mantenlo simple:✓ The car that I bought is fast. - Obsesión por la omisión: Intentar borrar el pronombre en una cláusula explicativa.
✗ My brother, lives in Tokyo, is a chef.Necesitas esewhopara unir las partes:✓ My brother, who lives in Tokyo, is a chef.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
My friend, a professional gamer, is rich. Es muy parecido a My friend, who is a professional gamer, is rich.is), mientras que la aposición solo usa una frase nominal. Ambas se usan para 'información extra' y a ambas les encantan las comas.The girl who is sitting over there, puedes decir simplemente The girl sitting over there. Esta es una forma más avanzada y 'guay' de hablar que te hace sonar muy nativo.I know what you did. Una oración de relativo describe un sustantivo, como I know the person who did it.Quick FAQ
P: ¿Puedo usar which en una oración especificativa?
R: ¡Sí, puedes! The car which I bought está totalmente bien, aunque that es más común al hablar. Eso sí, nunca uses that en una explicativa.
P: ¿Está bien omitir who o that?
R: Solo en las especificativas, y solo si hay otro sujeto después. The man [who] I saw está bien. The man who saw me no; ahí necesitas el who porque es el sujeto.
P: ¿Por qué necesito comas con los nombres?
R: Porque los nombres ya identifican a la persona. Si dices John, sabemos que es John. Cualquier información después es automáticamente 'extra', así que necesita comas.
P: ¿Cambia esto el tono de mi escritura?
R: Totalmente. Las oraciones explicativas te hacen sonar más detallista y sofisticado. Las especificativas te hacen sonar directo y claro. Usarlas bien demuestra que has pasado del inglés 'básico'.
P: ¿Y si tengo dos hermanas?
R: Si quieres hablar de la que vive en España, di My sister who lives in Spain. ¡Sin comas! Esto le dice al oyente que estás eligiendo a una hermana de entre las dos. Magia, ¿verdad?
Relative Pronoun Selection
| Function | For People | For Things | For Places/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subject
|
who / that
|
which / that
|
N/A
|
|
Object
|
who / whom / that / (ø)
|
which / that / (ø)
|
where / when
|
|
Possessive
|
whose
|
whose / of which
|
N/A
|
Pronoun Omission (Defining Only)
| Full Form | Short Form (Omitted) | Condition |
|---|---|---|
|
The man who I met
|
The man I met
|
Pronoun is the Object
|
|
The book that you read
|
The book you read
|
Pronoun is the Object
|
|
The man who lives here
|
NOT POSSIBLE
|
Pronoun is the Subject
|
Meanings
Relative clauses provide more information about a noun. Defining clauses limit the noun to a specific one, while non-defining clauses provide supplementary details about a noun already identified.
Defining (Restrictive)
Tells us which specific person or thing we are talking about. Without it, the sentence is incomplete or unclear.
“The students who studied hard passed the exam.”
“I'm looking for the keys that I left on the table.”
Non-Defining (Non-Restrictive)
Adds extra information about a noun we already know. The sentence still makes sense if you remove this clause.
“My brother, who lives in New York, is a chef.”
“The Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1889, is in Paris.”
Object Pronoun Omission
In defining clauses, if the relative pronoun is the object of the verb, it can be deleted.
“The movie (that) we watched was boring.”
“The person (who) I called didn't answer.”
Reference Table
| Característica | Cláusula Definitoria | Cláusula No Definitoria |
|---|---|---|
|
Propósito
|
Identifica el sustantivo
|
Proporciona información extra
|
|
Comas
|
No se usan comas
|
Siempre usa comas
|
|
¿Puede usar 'that'?
|
Sí (muy común)
|
No (¡nunca!)
|
|
¿Se puede omitir el pronombre?
|
Sí (si es objeto)
|
No (nunca)
|
|
Ejemplo
|
The car that I like...
|
My car, which I like,...
|
|
Significado si se elimina
|
La oración se vuelve confusa
|
La oración sigue siendo clara
|
Espectro de formalidad
The colleague with whom I collaborated on the project is absent. (Workplace)
The colleague who I worked with on the project is away. (Workplace)
The guy I worked with is out. (Workplace)
My project partner's ghosting today. (Workplace)
Cláusulas Relativas: La Prueba de Identidad
Definitoria (Esencial)
- No Commas Identificación
- Uses 'That' Casual/Diario
No Definitoria (Extra)
- Has Commas Detalle Extra
- No 'That' Regla Estricta
Definitoria vs. No Definitoria
¿Coma o Sin Coma?
¿La oración sigue teniendo sentido si eliminas la cláusula?
¿Es el sustantivo un nombre específico o algo único (como 'Paris')?
Límites de Uso de Pronombres
Seguro para Ambos
- • Who (para personas)
- • Which (para cosas)
- • Whose
- • Where
SOLO Definitoria
- • That
- • Omission (Zero pronoun)
Ejemplos por nivel
The boy who is happy is my brother.
The boy who is happy is my brother.
I have a dog that is big.
I have a dog that is big.
This is the book that I want.
This is the book that I want.
The girl who lives here is nice.
The girl who lives here is nice.
The car which he bought is blue.
The car which he bought is blue.
The man (who) I saw yesterday was tall.
The man (who) I saw yesterday was tall.
I like the city where I was born.
I like the city where I was born.
She is the teacher who helps me.
She is the teacher who helps me.
My sister, who lives in Rome, is a lawyer.
My sister, who lives in Rome, is a lawyer.
The laptop that I use for work is broken.
The laptop that I use for work is broken.
London, which is the capital of the UK, is huge.
London, which is the capital of the UK, is huge.
The man whose car was stolen is very angry.
The man whose car was stolen is very angry.
The company, which was founded in 1920, is closing.
The company, which was founded in 1920, is closing.
He failed his driving test, which was a surprise.
He failed his driving test, which was a surprise.
The candidate for whom I voted didn't win.
The candidate for whom I voted didn't win.
Is that the reason why you were late?
Is that the reason why you were late?
The building, the roof of which was damaged, is old.
The building, the roof of which was damaged, is old.
Anyone wishing to leave early may do so.
Anyone wishing to leave early may do so.
The method by which they achieved this is unknown.
The method by which they achieved this is unknown.
The town, where many artists live, is very vibrant.
The town, where many artists live, is very vibrant.
The project, the success of which remains to be seen, is costly.
The project, the success of which remains to be seen, is costly.
He was late, as is often the case with him.
He was late, as is often the case with him.
Whosoever finds the key shall be rewarded.
Whosoever finds the key shall be rewarded.
The situation, albeit difficult, is not hopeless.
The situation, albeit difficult, is not hopeless.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often use them interchangeably in all contexts.
Learners aren't sure when to use the object form 'whom'.
Both describe nouns but use different structures.
Errores comunes
The man which lives here.
The man who lives here.
I like the book what you gave me.
I like the book that you gave me.
The girl she lives next door is nice.
The girl who lives next door is nice.
I saw the man who he is a doctor.
I saw the man who is a doctor.
The house that I live is small.
The house where I live is small.
This is the man who's car is red.
This is the man whose car is red.
The movie who I saw was good.
The movie that I saw was good.
My mother, that is 50, is a nurse.
My mother, who is 50, is a nurse.
Paris which is in France is beautiful.
Paris, which is in France, is beautiful.
The man, who I met him, was nice.
The man, who I met, was nice.
The car, that's engine is broken, is mine.
The car, whose engine is broken, is mine.
Patrones de oraciones
The ___ who ___ is ___.
___, which is ___, is ___.
The ___ (that) I ___ was ___.
The person whose ___ is ___.
Real World Usage
My bestie, who is literally the cutest, just graduated!
I am looking for a role that allows me to use my coding skills.
The suspect, who was arrested late last night, is being questioned.
Did you find the keys I lost?
The theory, which was first proposed in 1990, remains controversial.
Take the train that goes toward the city center.
El truco de 'señalar con el dedo'
Evita 'that' con comas
My dog, which is a golden retriever, loves to swim.
La formalidad importa
The movie that I saw was great.(casual) vs.
The movie, which was a drama, won awards.(formal, no definitoria).
Smart Tips
Always use a non-defining clause with commas. Proper nouns are already specific, so any extra info is just 'extra'.
Use 'whom' after prepositions like 'to', 'with', or 'for'.
Check if there is another subject immediately after it. If there is, you can usually delete it.
Use ', which' at the end of the sentence.
Pronunciación
The Comma Pause
In non-defining clauses, there is a slight drop in pitch and a brief pause where the commas are.
Relative Pronoun Reduction
In fast speech, 'that' is often pronounced with a schwa /ðət/.
Non-defining Parenthetical
My car, (which is red), is fast.
The pitch goes down for the clause and back up for the main verb.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Defining is 'Determining' (no commas needed), Non-defining is 'Needless' (needs commas).
Asociación visual
Imagine a defining clause as a wedding ring—it's essential and stays on the finger. Imagine a non-defining clause as a bracelet—it's extra, and you can take it off (the commas are the clasps).
Rhyme
If it's extra, use a comma. If it's needed, save the drama.
Story
A detective is looking for 'the man who stole the diamond' (Defining). Once he catches him, he says, 'This man, who is wearing a red hat, is the thief' (Non-defining).
Word Web
Desafío
Look at 5 objects in your room. Write one defining and one non-defining sentence for each.
Notas culturales
British speakers are slightly more likely to use 'which' in defining clauses than American speakers, who strictly prefer 'that'.
Using 'whom' is almost exclusively reserved for formal writing or very formal speeches. Using it in casual conversation can sound pretentious.
In some dialects, 'that' is used for people more frequently than 'who' in informal speech.
Relative pronouns in English evolved from demonstrative and interrogative pronouns in Old English ('se', 'seo', 'þæt').
Inicios de conversación
Tell me about a person who has influenced your life.
Describe your hometown, which I've never visited.
What's a movie that you've seen more than three times?
Think of a famous person whom you admire.
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
Elige la oración correcta:
Tokyo, ___ is the capital of Japan, is a huge city.
Find and fix the mistake:
Mr. Smith that is my teacher is very kind.
Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesMy brother, ___ lives in Spain, is visiting next week.
The woman ___ car was stolen called the police.
Find and fix the mistake:
The laptop, that I bought yesterday, is very fast.
I have a friend. He speaks five languages.
Match types
The cake that I ate was delicious.
The man who lives here is nice.
This is the park ___ we first met.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesThe phone ___ I bought yesterday is broken.
Which one is right?
Paris / is / which / beautiful / I / visited / , / ,
The girl which lives next door is nice.
El gato que está durmiendo es mío.
Empareja los elementos:
My mother, ___ is 60, still runs marathons.
Which sentence identifies a specific thing?
The man who is standing there is my uncle.
The company, ___ headquarters are in London, is hiring.
Score: /10
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
Use a comma if the information is 'extra'. If the sentence still makes sense without it, add commas. If the info is needed to know which noun you mean, no commas.
In defining clauses, yes (e.g., 'The man that I saw'). In non-defining clauses, no—you must use 'who'.
'Who' is for subjects (the person doing the action). 'Whom' is for objects (the person receiving the action). 'Whom' is mostly used in formal writing.
No. You can only drop it in defining clauses when it is the object of the sentence (e.g., 'The book I read'). You cannot drop it if it is the subject (e.g., 'The book that is on the table').
In defining clauses, 'which' can sound slightly more formal than 'that', especially in British English. In non-defining clauses, 'which' is the only option for things.
Yes! It is perfectly natural to say 'The car whose engine is broken' instead of the more clunky 'The car the engine of which is broken'.
This is a standard rule of English grammar. 'That' is considered a restrictive pronoun, meaning its job is to limit or define. Non-defining clauses don't limit, so 'that' doesn't fit.
It might change the meaning! 'My brother who is a doctor' implies you have multiple brothers and you're talking about the doctor one. 'My brother, who is a doctor,' implies you have one brother and he happens to be a doctor.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
que / quien / el cual
English distinguishes between 'that' and 'which' based on commas; Spanish uses 'que' for both.
qui / que / lequel
French relative pronouns are determined by grammatical function (subject/object), not by the 'essentialness' of the info.
der / die / das
German requires commas for every relative clause, whereas English only uses them for non-defining ones.
Pre-nominal modifiers
Japanese uses word order (clause + noun) instead of pronouns (noun + who/which).
al-ladhi (الذي)
Arabic requires a pronoun like 'him' or 'it' inside the clause (e.g., 'the man who I saw him').
de (的)
Chinese places the description before the noun, while English places it after.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Oraciones de Relativo Especificativas: Identificando Personas y Cosas
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