Propositions subordonnées relatives non-restrictives : Ajouter des informations supplémentaires (avec des virgules)
extra (non-essential) ; that est à éviter absolument (no-go) dans ces clauses.
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 utilise une proposition non définie. Ton ami sait déjà de quelle sœur tu parles parce que tu n'en as qu'une ! Le fait qu'elle habite à Tokyo est juste un détail sympa en plus pour le groupe de discussion.How This Grammar Works
Paris, which is the capital of France, is beautiful. On sait tous ce qu'est Paris.who, which, where, et whose. Mais voici la règle d'or : tu ne peux JAMAIS utiliser that dans une proposition non définie.The book, which I finished last night, was boring. Tu as besoin de ce pronom pour faire le pont avec ton info supplémentaire.that.
Formation Pattern
My mom, Netflix, London).
who pour les personnes, which pour les choses, where pour les lieux, et whose pour la possession.
My laptop (1), (2) which (3) I bought only last month (4), (5) is already acting like it's 100 years old (6). C'est un flux simple une fois que tu as pris le coup de main de la technique du « sandwich à virgules » !
When To Use It
My former boss, who recently started her own company, is hiring. Ou une légende Instagram : This sunset, which I caught just before the rain started, was magical. C'est parfait pour les vlogs de voyage quand tu veux décrire un monument : The Colosseum, where gladiators used to fight, is even bigger in person. Ça apparaît aussi constamment dans les sous-titres Netflix ou les reportages aux infos pour donner le contexte sur les personnages ou les événements. En gros, chaque fois que tu as envie de dire « incidemment » ou « comme tu le sais peut-être », une proposition relative non définie est ta meilleure amie.
Common Mistakes
that. Rappelle-toi : that est réservé aux infos essentielles. Tu ne peux pas dire My dog, that is a pug, is sleeping. Ça doit être My dog, which is a pug, is sleeping. (En fait, pour les animaux avec des noms, on utilise souvent who parce qu'on les aime !). Un autre piège est d'essayer de supprimer le pronom. Alors que tu peux souvent laisser tomber who ou which dans d'autres types de propositions, tu dois les garder ici. My car, I bought last year, is fast est un échec total. Tu as besoin de ce which. Enfin, n'oublie pas la deuxième virgule ! Beaucoup de gens commencent la proposition avec une virgule mais oublient de la fermer, laissant l'info supplémentaire flotter dans l'espace. C'est comme fermer un seul côté d'une parenthèse — ça sonne juste faux. C'est comme sortir de la maison avec une seule chaussure ; les gens vont le remarquer, et ça va être gênant.Contrast With Similar Patterns
The man who lives next door is a spy. Si tu enlèves who lives next door, tu dis juste The man is a spy. Quel homme ? Personne ne sait ! Aucune virgule n'est utilisée ici.Mr. Smith, who lives next door, is a spy. On sait déjà que c'est M. Smith.that : les propositions définies adorent that (The phone that I want is expensive), mais les propositions non définies le détestent.Quick FAQ
whoever ou whichever ?R: Pas vraiment. Ce sont pour des structures différentes. Reste sur les basiques : who, which, where, et whose pour ces propositions spécifiques « d'info supplémentaire ».
R: Facile ! Tu as juste besoin d'une virgule avant le pronom et d'un point à la fin. Comme ça : I'm going to visit London, which is my favorite city.
who pour les animaux ?R: Si l'animal a un nom ou si tu ressens un lien personnel avec lui, vas-y ! Si c'est juste « une araignée » ou « l'oiseau », which est plus sûr.
R: Pas du tout ! Ça te donne juste l'air articulé. Même dans des textos décontractés, utiliser une proposition rapide avec which peut rendre ton point de vue plus clair.
that ?R: Honnêtement ? C'est juste une de ces règles anglaises du genre « parce que je l'ai dit ». Les grammairiens ont décidé il y a longtemps que that est pour les infos essentielles seulement, et on est coincés avec ça depuis. Accepte juste le which !
Memory Trick
Vois les virgules comme « The Handles ». Tout comme un panier a deux poignées qui te permettent de le ramasser et de le déplacer, une proposition non définie a deux virgules qui te permettent de ramasser l'information supplémentaire et de la « soulever » hors de la phrase. Si la phrase tient toujours parfaitement debout toute seule après que tu as « soulevé » le panier, c'est que les virgules étaient censées être là !
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
| Pronom Relatif | Fait référence à | Exemple (Non-Définissant) | Exemple (Définissant) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
who
|
Personnes
|
My sister, who lives in Canada, is visiting soon.
|
The student who aced the exam got a scholarship.
|
|
whom
|
Personnes (objet, formel)
|
The CEO, whom I met yesterday, was very approachable.
|
The person whom you spoke to earlier has left.
|
|
whose
|
Possession (personnes/choses)
|
My dog, whose name is Loki, loves chasing squirrels.
|
I know a guy whose car is electric.
|
|
which
|
Choses/Idées
|
The new café, which has amazing pastries, is always busy.
|
The book which I borrowed from you is fantastic.
|
|
where
|
Lieux
|
London, where I grew up, is a vibrant city.
|
The park where we first met is beautiful.
|
|
when
|
Moments
|
Next Tuesday, when the new movie comes out, I'm going.
|
I remember the day when we graduated.
|
Spectre de formalité
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)
Clauses Non-Définissantes : La carte de l'"Info Bonus"
Caractéristiques clés
- Commas Toujours des virgules !
- Amovible La phrase a toujours du sens sans elle
- No 'That' Jamais 'that' ici
Pronoms Relatifs
- Who Pour les personnes
- Which Pour les choses/idées
- Whose Pour la possession
- Where Pour les lieux
- When Pour les moments
Objectif
- Ajouter du détail Donner plus de contexte
- Notes secondaires Offrir des opinions/commentaires
- Enrichir le discours Sembler plus naturel
Définissantes vs. Non-Définissantes : Repère la différence !
Choisir ta Clause Relative : Un guide rapide
L'information est-elle essentielle pour identifier le nom ?
La clause fait-elle référence à une personne ?
La clause fait-elle référence à une chose ou une idée ?
La clause montre-t-elle la possession ?
La clause fait-elle référence à un lieu ?
La clause fait-elle référence à un moment ?
Pronoms pour les Clauses Non-Définissantes
Pour les Personnes
- • who
- • whom (formel)
- • whose
Pour les Choses/Idées
- • which
- • whose
Pour les Lieux
- • where
Pour les Moments
- • when
Exemples par 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.
Facile à confondre
Learners don't know when to use commas and when not to.
Learners want to use 'that' in all relative clauses.
Erreurs courantes
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.
Structures de phrases
[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.
Les virgules sont tes guides
définit pas le nom. Si tu peux retirer la clause et que ta phrase a toujours un sens, tu as besoin de virgules : My sister, who lives in Canada, is visiting soon.
Évite 'That' ici !
The new café, which has amazing pastries, is always busy.(et non 'that').
Lis à voix haute pour le rythme
My dog, whose name is Loki, loves chasing squirrels.
Améliore ton storytelling
London, where I grew up, is a vibrant city.
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.
Prononciation
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.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Commas are like handles on a suitcase: they hold the extra stuff you're carrying.
Association visuelle
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
Défi
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.').
Notes culturelles
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.
Amorces de conversation
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.
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
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
Exercices pratiques
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:
Associe les sujets aux clauses non-définissantes correctes :
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:
Associe les débuts de phrases principales aux fins de clauses non-définissantes appropriées :
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
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