Marmara Elt Resources

Non-Defining Relative Clause-The Function of Non-Defining Relative Clause

Definition: A non-defining relative clause (also called non-identifying relative clauses or non-restrictive relative clauses) provide interesting ADDITIONAL information which is not essential to understanding the meaning of the sentence. It tells us more about someone or something, but do not define it.

For example:

• Elephants that love mice are very unusual.
  * This tells us which elephants we are talking about.
• Elephants, which are large and grey, can sometimes be found in zoos.
  * This gives us some extra information about elephants - we are talking about all elephants, not just one type or group.
• My sister, who lives in France, is coming to stay with me next week.
  * “who lives in France” is not essential, which means that I only have one sister and she does not need to be defined by the “relative clause”)

Punctuation Correct punctuation is essential in non-defining relative clauses. If the non-defining relative clause occurs in the middle of a sentence, a comma is put before the relative pronoun and at the end of the clause. If the non-defining relative clause occurs at the end of a sentence, a comma is put before the relative pronoun. Read the rest of this entry »

English/English in use/Subject-verb agreement
English features a loose conjugation and declension pattern. For this reason, subject-verb agreement is of paramount importance.

Subject-Verb agreement is a rule which states that the number present in a noun must agree with the number shown in the conjugated form of the verb that is being used, and that the person of the noun must agree with the person of the conjugated form of the verb that you are using.

Proper Subject-Verb agreement:

* TO BE: I am - you are - he is - we are - you are - they are

* TO WORK: I work - you work - he works - we work - you work - they work

Where the subject is a pronoun or complex or modified as part of an adjectival phrase, or modified by parenthetic expressions, or clarified in meaning by common knowledge or something that occurs later in the sentence, then subject-verb agreement can become a little more complicated. Some grammar rules say that the complex part of the subject closest to verb in the sentence should determine the verbal agreement. However, many examples can be found that make this sound funny. A better rule is to consider the entire complex subject phrase as one subject, and then think about what kind of thing it represents.
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1. Noun Clauses as Subjects
Noun clauses are that clauses that have a subject and a verb. There is no comma between the main clause and the that clause. For example:
That several students came late to class annoyed the professor.
The fact that you are from South America made you ideal for the job.
It is common in speaking to move the noun clause to the end of the sentence and to put it in the subject position e.g. It annoyed the teacher that Albert smoked in class.
2. Noun Clauses as Objects
In this case, the word that is put before the clause, but it is not required e.g. The teacher reported that Albert smoked in class. or The teacher reported that Albert smoked in class.
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Common Idioms-Idioms-I
if worst comes to worst
- if the worst possible thing happens

If worst comes to worst we can cancel our holiday and go next year.
ill at ease
- feel nervous/uncomfortable

He appeared to be ill at ease during the interview.
in a bind
- in trouble
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