Cláusulas no restrictivas: Añadiendo información extra (con comas)
extra; y recuerda, that ¡no va aquí!
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
My sister, who lives in Tokyo, is coming to visit usa una cláusula no definitoria. ¡Tu amigo ya sabe a qué hermana te refieres porque solo tienes una! El hecho de que viva en Tokio es solo un detalle genial extra para el chat grupal.Por cierto. Te permiten tejer detalles complejos en tus historias, pies de foto de Instagram o correos profesionales sin empezar una oración completamente nueva.How This Grammar Works
Paris, which is the capital of France, is beautiful. Todos sabemos qué es París.who, which, where y whose. Pero aquí está la regla de oro: NUNCA puedes usar that en una cláusula no definitoria.The book, which I finished last night, was boring. Necesitas ese pronombre para actuar como el puente para tu info extra.that.
Formation Pattern
My mom, Netflix, London).
who para personas, which para cosas, where para lugares y whose para posesión.
My laptop (1), (2) which (3) I bought only last month (4), (5) is already acting like it's 100 years old (6). ¡Es un flujo simple una vez que le agarras la onda a la técnica del 'sándwich de comas'!
When To Use It
My former boss, who recently started her own company, is hiring. O un pie de foto de Instagram: This sunset, which I caught just before the rain started, was magical. Es perfecto para vlogs de viajes cuando quieres describir un punto de referencia: The Colosseum, where gladiators used to fight, is even bigger in person. También aparece constantemente en subtítulos de Netflix o reportes de noticias para dar antecedentes sobre personajes o eventos. Básicamente, cuando te encuentres queriendo decir 'incidentalmente' o 'como tal vez sepan', una cláusula relativa no definitoria es tu mejor amiga.
Common Mistakes
that. Recuerda: that es solo para info esencial. No puedes decir My dog, that is a pug, is sleeping. Tiene que ser My dog, which is a pug, is sleeping. (De hecho, para mascotas con nombres, a menudo usamos who porque ¡las amamos!). Otra trampa es tratar de borrar el pronombre. Aunque a menudo puedes omitir who o which en otros tipos de cláusulas, aquí debes mantenerlos. My car, I bought last year, is fast es un fallo total. Necesitas ese which. Por último, ¡no olvides la segunda coma! Mucha gente empieza la cláusula con una coma pero olvida cerrarla, dejando la info extra colgando en el espacio. Es como cerrar solo un lado de un paréntesis: simplemente se siente mal. Es como salir de casa con un solo zapato puesto; la gente se dará cuenta, y va a ser incómodo.Contrast With Similar Patterns
The man who lives next door is a spy. Si quitas who lives next door, solo estás diciendo The man is a spy. ¿Qué hombre? ¡Nadie lo sabe! Aquí no se usan comas.Mr. Smith, who lives next door, is a spy. Ya sabemos que es Mr. Smith.that: Las cláusulas definitorias aman that (The phone that I want is expensive), pero las cláusulas no definitorias lo odian.Quick FAQ
¿Puedo usar whoever o whichever?
Realmente no. Esos son para estructuras diferentes. Apégate a lo básico: who, which, where y whose para estas cláusulas específicas de 'info extra'.
¿Qué pasa si la info extra está al final de la oración?
¡Fácil! Solo necesitas una coma antes del pronombre y un punto al final. Así: I'm going to visit London, which is my favorite city.
¿Está bien usar who para animales?
Si el animal tiene un nombre o sientes una conexión personal con él, ¡adelante! Si es solo 'una araña' o 'el pájaro', which es más seguro.
¿Esto me hace sonar demasiado formal?
¡Para nada! Solo te hace sonar articulado. Incluso en mensajes casuales, usar una cláusula rápida con which puede hacer tu punto más claro.
¿Por qué no puedo usar that?
¿Honestamente? Es solo una de esas reglas del inglés de 'porque yo lo digo'. Los gramáticos decidieron hace mucho que that es solo para info esencial, y nos hemos quedado con eso desde entonces. ¡Solo acepta el which!
Memory Trick
Piensa en las comas como 'The Handles' (Las Asas). Justo como una canasta tiene dos asas que te permiten levantarla y moverla, una cláusula no definitoria tiene dos comas que te permiten levantar la información extra y 'sacarla' de la oración. Si la oración todavía se sostiene perfectamente por sí sola después de que has 'levantado' la canasta, ¡las comas se suponía que debían estar ahí!
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
| Pronombre Relativo | Se Refiere A | Ejemplo (No Restrictiva) | Ejemplo (Restrictiva) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
who
|
People
|
My sister, who lives in Canada, is visiting soon.
|
The student who aced the exam got a scholarship.
|
|
whom
|
People (object, formal)
|
The CEO, whom I met yesterday, was very approachable.
|
The person whom you spoke to earlier has left.
|
|
whose
|
Possession (people/things)
|
My dog, whose name is Loki, loves chasing squirrels.
|
I know a guy whose car is electric.
|
|
which
|
Things/Ideas
|
The new café, which has amazing pastries, is always busy.
|
The book which I borrowed from you is fantastic.
|
|
where
|
Places
|
London, where I grew up, is a vibrant city.
|
The park where we first met is beautiful.
|
|
when
|
Times
|
Next Tuesday, when the new movie comes out, I'm going.
|
I remember the day when we graduated.
|
Espectro de formalidad
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)
Cláusulas No Restrictivas: El Mapa de la 'Info Extra'
Características Clave
- Comas ¡Siempre usa comas!
- Removible La oración sigue teniendo sentido sin ella
- No 'That' Nunca uses 'that' aquí
Pronombres Relativos
- Who Para personas
- Which Para cosas/ideas
- Whose Para posesión
- Where Para lugares
- When Para tiempos
Propósito
- Añadir Detalle Dar más contexto
- Notas al Margen Ofrecer opiniones/comentarios
- Enriquecer el Habla Sonar más natural
Restrictivas vs. No Restrictivas: ¡Encuentra la Diferencia!
Eligiendo tu Cláusula Relativa: Una Guía Rápida
¿Es la información esencial para identificar el sustantivo?
¿La cláusula se refiere a una persona?
¿La cláusula se refiere a una cosa o idea?
¿La cláusula muestra posesión?
¿La cláusula se refiere a un lugar?
¿La cláusula se refiere a un tiempo?
Pronombres para Cláusulas No Restrictivas
Para Personas
- • who
- • whom (formal)
- • whose
Para Cosas/Ideas
- • which
- • whose
Para Lugares
- • where
Para Tiempos
- • when
Ejemplos por nivel
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.
Fácil de confundir
Learners don't know when to use commas and when not to.
Learners want to use 'that' in all relative clauses.
Errores comunes
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.
Patrones de oraciones
[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.
¡Las comas son tu guía!
My brother, who lives in Sydney, is a fantastic surfer.
¡Evita 'that' aquí!
The meeting, that was scheduled for 3 PM, has been postponed.¡Incorrecto!
Lee en voz alta para el ritmo
My colleague, whom I admire greatly, received a promotion last month.
¡Mejora tu forma de contar historias!
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.
Pronunciación
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.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Commas are like handles on a suitcase: they hold the extra stuff you're carrying.
Asociación visual
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
Desafío
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.').
Notas culturales
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.
Inicios de conversación
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.
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
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
Ejercicios de practica
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
Preguntas frecuentes (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
Videos relacionados
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
Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Cláusulas de relativo no restrictivas) - Curso de Inglés B2
Amigos Ingleses
Relative Clauses (Defining and Non-Defining) - Cláusulas de Relativo (Explicación en español)
English with Adrian
Related Grammar Rules
Oraciones de relativo: Diferencia entre especificativas y explicativas
Overview Imagina que estás navegando por tu feed de Instagram. Ves una publicación de un amigo que tiene dos gatos. Uno...
Adverbio Relativo: Where para Lugares
Overview ¿Alguna vez has intentado contarle a un amigo sobre esa pizzería increíble pero te quedaste trabado a mitad de...
Cláusulas de Relativo Formales (en el cual, a quien)
### Overview Las 'Formal Relative Clauses' (oraciones de relativo formales) que utilizan la estructura `preposition + w...
Acorta tus frases: Cláusulas de relativo reducidas
### Overview Las `reduced relative clauses` (oraciones de relativo reducidas) son una herramienta fundamental para elev...
Whose: Mostrando Posesión
### Overview El uso de `whose` es un pilar fundamental para alcanzar un nivel de inglés avanzado. Como hablantes nativo...
