Defining and non-defining clauses

The man who lives next to me is nearly eighty.

The man who cleans my windows has gone into hospital.

The man who I saw on the bus is my neighbour.  

there are several apple trees in the garden.

there is one apple tree in the garden.  

there are several apple trees at the bottom of the garden.

there isn't an apple tree at the bottom of the garden

Edinburgh where my aunt lives is the capital of Scotland

The capital of Scotland, which my aunt lives, is Edinburgh. 

My aunt lives in Edinburgh, which is the capital of Scotland. 

Edinburgh, which is the capital of Scotland, lives my aunt.

who

where

which

that

 Emma's husband, who goes away a lot, she is often bored at home. 

Emma, who is often bored at home, husband goes away a lot

Emma whose husband goes away a lot is often bored at home.  

Emma, whose husband goes away a lot, is often bored at home.  

I have one brother

I have several brothers

All my brothers work at the supermarket

I don't get on with my brothers

give extra information about someone or something

give essential information about someone or something

 we don’t use commas 

 we use commas 

A photocopier is a machine that makes copies of pages.  

I’ve lost the magazine that I was reading. 

The film that we saw yesterday was brilliant. 

Defining

non-Defining

The camera who Greg bought yesterday doesn’t work

Greg, who bought a camera yesterday, doesn’t work

The camera that Greg bought yesterday doesn’t work.

Greg who bought a camera yesterday doesn’t work

George, who wants me to do some more work for him, I've worked for before. 

George, who has worked before, wants me to do some more work for him.

George who has worked before wants me to do some more work for him.

George, who I've worked for before, wants me to do some more work for him. 

I have one brother

I have several brothers

All my brothers work at the supermarket

I don't get on with my brothers