He’s the only person in this class whose first name begins with ‘Z’.
He’s the only person in this class whose first name begins with ‘Z’. Defining – whose cannot be omitted
What’s the name of the village where you got married?
What’s the name of the village where you got married? Defining – where cannot be omitted
He hasn’t given me back the book that I lent him.
He hasn’t given me back the book that I lent him. Defining – that can be omitted
Emma received a phone call from her Managing Director who had been impressed by her sales performance.
Emma received a phone call from her Managing Director, who had been impressed by her sales performance. Non-defining – she has, we assume, only one Managing Dir
Few written records have survived so it is a period of history about which we know very little.
Defining – which cannot be omitted as it follows a preposition. The sentence could be changed to: Few written records have survived so it is a period of history
She told me that Vasilis had failed his driving test which didn’t surprise me at all. Non-defining – which refers to the whole clause
She told me that Vasilis had failed his driving test, which didn’t surprise me at all. Non-defining – which refers to the whole clause
That song always reminds me of the time when I was working in Brazil.
That song always reminds me of the time when I was working in Brazil. Defining – when can be omitted
Lady Gaga whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born on March 28 1986.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, was born on March 28 1986. Non-defining
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