Orações Subordinadas Adjetivas Explicativas: Adicionando Informações Extras (com vírgulas)
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
extra (exagerado)? Bem, na gramática inglesa, ser extra é na verdade uma regra formal! Estamos falando daqueles momentos em que você quer soltar um fato bônus em uma frase sem mudar o ponto principal.non-defining relative clauses são essencialmente informações bônus. Elas te contam mais sobre uma pessoa, coisa ou lugar, mas não são essenciais para identificar sobre quem ou o que você está falando. Imagine que você está contando a um amigo sobre sua irmã.My sister, who lives in Tokyo, is coming to visit usa uma *non-defining clause*. Seu amigo já sabe a qual irmã você se refere porque você só tem uma! O fato de ela morar em Tóquio é apenas um detalhe extra legal para o grupo do chat.Aliás. Elas permitem que você insira detalhes complexos em suas histórias, legendas do Instagram ou e-mails profissionais sem começar uma frase totalmente nova.How This Grammar Works
Paris, which is the capital of France, is beautiful. Todos nós sabemos o que é Paris.who, which, where e whose. Mas aqui está a regra de ouro: você NUNCA pode usar that em uma *non-defining clause*.The book, which I finished last night, was boring. Você precisa desse pronome para agir como a ponte para sua informação extra.that.
Formation Pattern
My mom, Netflix, London).
who para pessoas, which para coisas, where para lugares e whose para posse.
My laptop (1), (2) which (3) I bought only last month (4), (5) is already acting like it's 100 years old (6). É um fluxo simples depois que você pega o jeito da técnica do 'sanduíche de vírgula'!
When To Use It
My former boss, who recently started her own company, is hiring. Ou uma legenda no Instagram: This sunset, which I caught just before the rain started, was magical. É perfeito para vlogs de viagem quando você quer descrever um ponto turístico: The Colosseum, where gladiators used to fight, is even bigger in person. Também aparece constantemente em legendas da Netflix ou noticiários para fornecer contexto sobre personagens ou eventos. Basicamente, sempre que você quiser dizer 'a propósito' ou 'como você deve saber', uma *non-defining relative clause* é sua melhor amiga.
Common Mistakes
that. Lembre-se: that é apenas para informações essenciais. Você não pode dizer My dog, that is a pug, is sleeping. Tem que ser My dog, which is a pug, is sleeping. (Na verdade, para animais de estimação com nomes, muitas vezes usamos who porque os amamos!). Outra armadilha é tentar deletar o pronome. Embora você possa frequentemente descartar who ou which em outros tipos de orações, você deve mantê-los aqui. My car, I bought last year, is fast é um fracasso total. Você precisa desse which. Por último, não esqueça a segunda vírgula! Muitas pessoas começam a oração com uma vírgula, mas esquecem de fechá-la, deixando a informação extra pendurada no espaço. É como fechar apenas um lado de um parêntese — simplesmente parece errado. É como sair de casa com apenas um sapato; as pessoas vão notar, e vai ser estranho.Contrast With Similar Patterns
The man who lives next door is a spy. Se você remover who lives next door, você está apenas dizendo The man is a spy. Qual homem? Ninguém sabe! Nenhuma vírgula é usada aqui.Mr. Smith, who lives next door, is a spy. Já sabemos que é o Sr. Smith.that: *Defining clauses* amam that (The phone that I want is expensive), mas *non-defining clauses* odeiam.Quick FAQ
Posso usar whoever ou whichever?
Na verdade não. Esses são para estruturas diferentes. Atenha-se ao básico: who, which, where e whose para essas orações específicas de 'informação extra'.
E se a informação extra estiver no final da frase?
Fácil! Você só precisa de uma vírgula antes do pronome e um ponto final no final. Assim: I'm going to visit London, which is my favorite city.
Tudo bem usar who para animais?
Se o animal tem um nome ou você sente uma conexão pessoal com ele, vá em frente! Se for apenas 'uma aranha' ou 'o pássaro', which é mais seguro.
Isso me faz soar muito formal?
De jeito nenhum! Apenas faz você soar articulado. Mesmo em mensagens casuais, usar uma oração rápida com which pode tornar seu ponto mais claro.
Por que não posso usar that?
Honestamente? É apenas uma daquelas regras do inglês do tipo 'porque eu disse'. Gramáticos decidiram muito tempo atrás que that é apenas para informações essenciais, e estamos presos a isso desde então. Apenas aceite o which!
Memory Trick
Pense nas vírgulas como 'The Handles' (As Alças). Assim como uma cesta tem duas alças que permitem que você a pegue e mova, uma *non-defining clause* tem duas vírgulas que permitem que você pegue a informação extra e a 'levante' para fora da frase. Se a frase ainda ficar de pé perfeitamente sozinha depois que você 'levantar' a cesta, as vírgulas deveriam estar lá!
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
| Pronome Relativo | Refere-se a | Exemplo (Explicativa) | Exemplo (Restritiva) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 formalidade
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)
Orações Explicativas: O Mapa da 'Info Bônus'
Características Principais
- Vírgulas Sempre use vírgulas!
- Removível A frase ainda faz sentido sem ela
- Sem 'That' Nunca use 'that' aqui
Pronomes Relativos
- Who Para pessoas
- Which Para coisas/ideias
- Whose Para posse
- Where Para lugares
- When Para tempos
Propósito
- Adicionar Detalhe Dê mais contexto
- Notas Laterais Ofereça opiniões/comentários
- Enriquecer a Fala Soe mais natural
Restritiva vs. Explicativa: Ache a Diferença!
Escolhendo Sua Oração Relativa: Um Guia Rápido
A informação é essencial para identificar o substantivo?
A oração se refere a uma pessoa?
A oração se refere a uma coisa ou ideia?
A oração mostra posse?
A oração se refere a um lugar?
A oração se refere a um tempo?
Pronomes para Orações Explicativas
Para Pessoas
- • who
- • whom (formal)
- • whose
Para Coisas/Ideias
- • which
- • whose
Para Lugares
- • where
Para Tempos
- • when
Exemplos por nível
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.
Erros comuns
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.
Padrões de frases
[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.
As Vírgulas São Suas Guias
My car, which is red, is in the garage.(Você ainda entende que 'My car is in the garage' sem o resto).
Evite o 'That' Aqui!
My brother, that lives in London, is a doctor.O correto seria:
My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor.
Leia em Voz Alta para o Fluxo
My mom, who is an amazing chef, cooked dinner.e note a pausa.
Turbine Suas Histórias
My friend, who always tells funny jokes, made everyone laugh.
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.
Pronúncia
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.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Commas are like handles on a suitcase: they hold the extra stuff you're carrying.
Associação 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
Desafio
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 culturais
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.
Iniciadores de conversa
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 diário
Erros comuns
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
Exercicios praticos
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
Perguntas frequentes (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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Relative Clauses (Defining & Non-Defining) | EasyTeaching
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Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses - English Grammar Lesson
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Reduced Relative Clauses - Defining and Non- Defining Relative Clauses - Advanced Grammar Lesson
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