Defining Relative Clauses for Kids

1. Overview: A defining relative clause gives extra information about a noun. We can use "who" or "that" for people, and "that" or "which" for animals or things. This helps us to understand exactly which person or thing we are talking about. 2. Cases of Usage: Case 1: Use "who" for people. Example: The girl who is wearing a red dress is my sister. Case 2: Use "that" for both people and things, especially in informal speech. Example: The toy that I play with the most is my teddy bear. Case 3: Use "which" for animals or things in more formal speech. Example: The day which I enjoy the most is my birthday. 3. Additional Notes: It is a lot more common to use "that" with animals and things than "which". "Which" is also possible, but it can make your sentences sound more formal. Remember that defining relative clauses do not need commas. They give necessary information about the noun. A common mistake is using commas with these clauses. For example, do not write: The car, that is red, is fast.