Orações Relativas: Diferença entre Restritivas e Explicativas
Defining clauses que servem para identificar quem ou o quê, e as Non-defining clauses que dão informação extra e sempre usam vírgulas e which ou who.
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, ele está usando uma oração relativa restritiva (defining relative clause). Por quê? Porque sem a parte that is white, você não saberia de qual gato ele está falando!My cat, which is white, is so moody, isso é uma oração relativa explicativa (non-defining relative clause). O fato de o gato ser branco é apenas um detalhe extra.How This Grammar Works
The movie that we watched last night was awesome, a cláusula that we watched last night é o apontador laser. Ela te diz exatamente de qual filme estou falando. Se eu a tirar e disser apenas The movie was awesome, você diria: "Qual filme, cara?Inception, which we watched last night, was awesome, você já sabe que o filme é *Inception*.Inception was awesome ainda faz todo o sentido.Ei, você pode pular esta parte se estiver com pressa!Sem vírgulas, a informação é tratada como combustível essencial para o motor da frase. Se você omitir as vírgulas quando não deveria, pode sugerir coisas que não pretendia.
My girlfriend who lives in London is coming to visit implica que você tem outras namoradas em outras cidades (jogada arriscada!), enquanto My girlfriend, who lives in London, is coming to visit apenas nos diz onde sua única namorada mora.
Formation Pattern
the laptop, my boss).
who ou that (Restritiva) ou *apenas* who (Explicativa).
which ou that (Restritiva) ou *apenas* which (Explicativa).
that é um pouco caseiro. Ele só mora em orações restritivas. Ele nunca vai para as explicativas.
I, you, we), você geralmente pode deletá-lo inteiramente (The phone [that] I bought). Em orações explicativas, o pronome é obrigatório. Ele é o VIP que nunca sai da festa.
When To Use It
I want the burger that has no onions, essa cláusula é 100% necessária.The hotel that we stayed at was trash, ou para reclamar de tecnologia: The update that I downloaded broke my phone.Sarah, who has ten years of experience in marketing, joined our team. Você já sabe que é a Sarah.Paris) ou um relacionamento único (my mother). Se você estiver fofocando sobre uma celebridade, diria: Taylor Swift, who is currently on tour, just released a new album. Sabemo quem é a Taylor; a info da turnê é apenas um aliás.
Common Mistakes
- O drama da vírgula: Esquecer as vírgulas em uma cláusula explicativa é o erro nº 1. Escrever
My dad who is a doctor lives in Berlinsugere que você tem vários pais e está identificando o médico. A menos que você tenha uma dinâmica familiar muito moderna, provavelmente precisa dessas vírgulas:My dad, who is a doctor, lives in Berlin. - A armadilha do 'That': Usar
thatem uma cláusula explicativa. Você não pode dizer:✗ Paris, that I love, is beautiful.Soa como um erro na Matrix. Usewhichem vez disso:✓ Paris, which I love, is beautiful. - A confusão do 'Who': Às vezes as pessoas usam
whichpara pessoas. Não faça isso!✗ The guy which lives next dooré um erro feio. É✓ The guy who lives next door. - Sujeitos duplos: Adicionar um pronome extra após a cláusula.
✗ The car that I bought it is fast.Você não precisa doit! O pronome relativothatjá está fazendo o papel do objeto. Mantenha a frase enxuta:✓ The car that I bought is fast. - Obsessão por omissão: Tentar deletar o pronome em uma cláusula explicativa.
✗ My brother, lives in Tokyo, is a chef.Você precisa dessewhopara fazer a ponte:✓ My brother, who lives in Tokyo, is a chef.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
My friend, a professional gamer, is rich. É muito parecido com My friend, who is a professional gamer, is rich.is), enquanto o apositivo apenas usa uma frase nominal. Ambos são usados para 'informações extras' e ambos amam vírgulas.The girl who is sitting over there, você pode apenas dizer The girl sitting over there. Esta é uma maneira mais avançada e 'descolada' de falar que faz você parecer um nativo.I know what you did. Uma oração relativa descreve um substantivo, como I know the person who did it.Quick FAQ
P: Posso usar which em uma oração restritiva?
R: Sim, pode! The car which I bought é totalmente correto, embora that seja mais comum na fala casual. Só nunca use that em uma explicativa.
P: Posso omitir o who ou that?
R: Apenas em orações restritivas, e apenas se houver outro sujeito depois dele. The man [who] I saw está ok. The man who saw me não — você precisa do who lá porque ele é o sujeito.
P: Por que preciso de vírgulas para nomes?
R: Porque nomes já identificam a pessoa. Se você diz John, sabemos que é o John. Qualquer informação depois disso é automaticamente 'extra', então precisa de vírgulas.
P: Isso muda o tom da minha escrita?
R: Totalmente. Orações explicativas fazem você parecer mais detalhista e sofisticado. Orações restritivas fazem você parecer direto e claro. Usá-las corretamente mostra que você superou o inglês 'básico'.
P: E se eu tiver duas irmãs?
R: Se você quiser falar daquela que mora na Espanha, diga My sister who lives in Spain. Sem vírgulas! Isso diz ao ouvinte que você está escolhendo uma irmã entre as duas. Mágico, né?
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 | Defining Clause | Non-Defining Clause |
|---|---|---|
|
Propósito
|
Identify the noun
|
Provide extra information
|
|
Vírgulas
|
No commas used
|
Always uses commas
|
|
Pode usar 'that'?
|
Yes (very common)
|
No (never!)
|
|
Pode omitir pronome?
|
Yes (if object)
|
No (never)
|
|
Exemplo
|
The car that I like...
|
My car, which I like,...
|
|
Significado se removido
|
Sentence becomes unclear
|
Sentence is still clear
|
Espectro de formalidade
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: O Teste de Identidade
Defining (Essencial)
- Sem Vírgulas Identification
- Usa 'That' Casual/Daily
Non-Defining (Extra)
- Com Vírgulas Bonus Detail
- Não usa 'That' Strict Rule
Defining vs. Non-Defining
Vírgula ou Sem Vírgula?
A frase ainda faz sentido se você remover a cláusula?
O substantivo é um nome específico ou algo único (como 'Paris')?
Limites de Uso dos Pronomes
Seguro para Ambos
- • Who (for people)
- • Which (for things)
- • Whose
- • Where
APENAS Defining
- • That
- • Omission (Zero pronoun)
Exemplos por nível
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.
Erros comuns
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.
Padrões de frases
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.
O Truque de Apontar o Dedo
Evite 'That' com Vírgulas
My car, which I love, is red.
A Formalidade Importa
This is the show that I watched.
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.
Pronúncia
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.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Defining is 'Determining' (no commas needed), Non-defining is 'Needless' (needs commas).
Associação 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
Desafio
Look at 5 objects in your room. Write one defining and one non-defining sentence for each.
Notas culturais
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').
Iniciadores de conversa
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 diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Escolha a frase correta:
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
Exercicios praticos
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.
Qual está certo?
Paris / is / which / beautiful / I / visited / , / ,
The girl which lives next door is nice.
Kucing yang sedang tidur itu milikku.
Combine os itens:
My mother, ___ is 60, still runs marathons.
Qual frase identifica uma coisa específica?
The man who is standing there is my uncle.
The company, ___ headquarters are in London, is hiring.
Score: /10
Perguntas frequentes (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
Orações Relativas Restritivas: Identificando Pessoas e Coisas
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