Defining vs Non-Defining Relative Clauses: The Comma Rule
Defining और non-defining relative clauses के बीच फर्क सीखें, commas कब use करने हैं, कौन-से relative pronouns चुनने हैं, और common errors से कैसे बचें।
दो sentences एक ही words contain कर सकते हैं लेकिन meaning अलग हो सकता है — सिर्फ commos की वजह से।
My brother who lives in Pune is a doctor. (मेरे एक से ज़्यादा brothers हैं। यह Pune में रहता है।)
My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor. (मेरा एक brother है। वह Pune में रहता है।)
पहला sentence defining clause use करता है — यह identify करता है कि कौन-सा brother। दूसरा non-defining clause use करता है — यह extra information add करता है। Commas सारा फर्क बनाते हैं।
Related reading के लिए Which vs That और Sentence Types देखें।
एक defining relative clause identify करता है कि आप किस person या thing के बारे में बोल रहे हैं। यह meaning के लिए essential है। No commas।
एक non-defining relative clause पहले से identified person या thing के बारे में extra information add करता है। इसे हटाया जा सकता है बिना core meaning बदले। Commas use करें।
Rule box: ज़रूरी information के लिए कोई comma नहीं (defining)। Extra information के लिए commas (non-defining)।
| Feature | Defining | Non-defining |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Noun identify करता है | Extra information add करता है |
| Commas | No commas | Commas required |
| हटाया जा सकता है? | No — meaning बदलता है | Yes — core meaning रहता है |
| Relative pronoun | who, which, that | who, which (not that) |
The students who study daily improve faster.
The book that I bought is excellent.
People who exercise regularly stay healthier.
Clause identify करता है कि कौन-से students, कौन-सी book, या कौन-से people। इसके बिना sentence बहुत vague है।
My father, who is 65, still runs every day.
The Taj Mahal, which is in Agra, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dr. Sharma, who taught us grammar, has retired.
Clause information add करता है। Sentence इसके बिना भी काम करता है:
My father still runs every day.
The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Defining clauses में that और who/which दोनों acceptable हैं।
The book that I bought is good.
The book which I bought is good.
Non-defining clauses में who या which use करें — कभी that नहीं।
Wrong: The book, that I bought, is good.
Right: The book, which I bought, is good.
ये भी दोनों types की clauses introduce कर सकते हैं।
Defining: The place where we met is closed now.
Non-defining: Pune, where I grew up, is a beautiful city.
Defining: The man whose car was stolen called the police.
Non-defining: Mr. Desai, whose son is a doctor, lives next door.
- क्या information noun identify करने के लिए ज़रूरी है? → Defining, no commas।
- क्या information सिर्फ extra detail है? → Non-defining, commas use करें।
- क्या clause हटाया जा सकता है और फिर भी पता चलता है कि किसके बारे में? → Non-defining।
- Pronoun चुनें: who (people), which (things), that (defining only), whose (possession)।
- Commas check करें। Non-defining clauses को दोनों तरफ commas चाहिए (या एक तरफ अगर end में हो)।
My brother who lives in Pune is a doctor.
No commas = defining = मेरे एक से ज़्यादा brothers हैं। Clause identify करता है कि कौन-सा।
My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.
Commas = non-defining = मेरा एक brother है। Clause extra information add करता है।
The book, that I bought, is good.
Non-defining clause that use नहीं कर सकता।
The book, which I bought, is good.
- The students who passed the exam received certificates. (defining — कौन-से students?)
- My classmates, who passed the exam, celebrated. (non-defining — सब pass हुए)
- The phone that I bought last week is already slow. (defining)
- My iPhone, which I bought last week, is already slow. (non-defining)
- The city where I was born is very crowded. (defining)
- Mumbai, where I was born, is very crowded. (non-defining)
- The teacher who taught us maths was very strict. (defining — कौन-सा teacher?)
- Mrs. Kapoor, who taught us maths, was very strict. (non-defining)
- The car that caused the accident fled. (defining)
- The truck, which caused the accident, fled. (non-defining)
Wrong: The book, that I bought, is good.
Right: The book, which I bought, is good.
That non-defining clauses introduce नहीं कर सकता।
Wrong: My father who is 65 still runs.
Right: My father**,** who is 65**,** still runs.
Commas के बिना sentence imply करता है कि आपके एक से ज़्यादा fathers हैं।
Wrong: The students**,** who study hard**,** will pass.
Right: The students who study hard will pass.
Commas इसे non-defining बना देते हैं, जो meaning बदल देता है।
Wrong: The book who I bought is good.
Right: The book which I bought is good.
Who सिर्फ people के लिए, which things के लिए।
Defining clauses में, relative pronoun को omit किया जा सकता है जब वह object हो।
The book (that) I bought is good. (object — omit कर सकते हैं)
The man who called you is my uncle. (subject — omit नहीं कर सकते)
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The book, that I bought, is good. | The book, which I bought, is good. | No that in non-defining. |
| My brother who lives in Pune is a doctor. (one brother) | My brother**,** who lives in Pune**,** is a doctor. | Non-defining needs commas. |
| The students**,** who study**,** will pass. | The students who study will pass. | Defining has no commas. |
| The book who I bought is good. | The book which I bought is good. | Who for people only. |
जहाँ ज़रूरत हो commas add करें और correct pronoun चुनें।
- My sister who lives in Delhi is a teacher.
- The car which I bought last month broke down.
- The movie that we watched yesterday was boring.
- Mr. Verma who is our principal is very kind.
- Error spotting: The book, that I borrowed, is interesting.
- Error spotting: My father, who is a doctor is very busy.
- Error spotting: The phone who I bought is not working.
- Fill in the blank: The man ___ called you is waiting. (who / which)
- Rewrite correctly: My laptop that I bought last year still works well. (one laptop, extra info)
- Choose: The students ___ passed will receive awards. (who / , who ,)
- My sister, who lives in Delhi, is a teacher. (one sister, extra info)
- The car, which I bought last month, broke down. (extra info)
- The movie that we watched yesterday was boring. (defining — which movie?)
- Mr. Verma, who is our principal, is very kind. (extra info)
- The book, which I borrowed, is interesting.
- My father, who is a doctor, is very busy.
- The phone which I bought is not working.
- who — subject pronoun person के लिए।
- My laptop, which I bought last year, still works well.
- who — defining clause, no commas.
Rule: Defining = no commas, noun identify करता है। Non-defining = commas, extra info। Non-defining clauses में कभी that use न करें।
Memory trick: Commas का मतलब “by the way”। No commas का मतलब “मुझे बताना है कौन-सा”।
ये revise करें:
- The students who study daily improve. (defining)
- My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor. (non-defining)
- The book that I bought is good. (defining)
- The book, which I bought, is good. (non-defining)