Identifying Relative Clauses

Read the following sentences and say whether the relative clause is identifying or non-identifying.

Note that identifying relative clauses are also known as defining or restrictive relative clauses. Similarly, non-identifying relative clauses are also known as non-defining or non-restrictive relative clauses.

1. During the summer vacation, I visited Tanjavoor, which is famous for its beutiful temples.
2. Mrs. Mehta, who lives next doors, is an eminent psychiatrist.
3. You should visit a store that deals in antiques.
4. The mother whose child had gone missing was frantic.
5. The girl who won the first prize in the drawing competition looked elated.
6. I talked to Rahul, who runs an animal shelter in the town.
7. I would like to visit Paris, which is known as the fashion capital of the world.
8. He who laughs last laughs best.
9. The doctor whom I consulted for my acne problem is a dermatologist.
10. My sister, who lives in Germany, is a doctor.

Answers

1. which is famous for its beautiful temples (non-identifying)
2. who lives next doors (non-identifying)
3. that deals in antiques (identifying)
4. whose child had gone missing (identifying)
5. who won the first prize (identifying)
6. who runs an animal shelter (non-identifying)
7. which is known… (non-identifying)
8. who laughs last (identifying)
9. whom I consulted for… (identifying)
10. who lives in Germany (non-identifying)

You can learn more about identifying relative clauses here.