Defining and Non-defining relative clauses

Hi,

Quick question on defining and non-defining relative clauses.

The fireman who works in the town is very young?
or
The fireman, who works in the town, is very young?

Which is correct? First, second or both -depending on context.

I'd appreciate your input?

Thanks

ReusableObject

Quote:

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Originally Posted by reusableobject

Hi,

Quick question on defining and non-defining relative clauses.

The fireman who works in the town is very young?
This is a defining (restrictive) clause. It specifies which fireman is very young.

or
The fireman, who works in the town, is very young?
This is a non-defining (non-restrictive) clause. It adds information about an already identified fireman.


Which is correct? First, second or both -depending on context.
It depends on what you want to say.

I'd appreciate your input ?

Thanks

ReusableObject

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R.

I think I can provide examples, please correct them if they're wrong.

Two people are talking about two firemen:
"How old is the fireman?"
"Which one? The fireman who works outside the town is quite old. The other one, the fireman who works in the town is very young."

I got two know two people today, a policeman, and a fireman. The policeman, who works outside the town, is quite old. The fireman, who works in the town, is very young.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by birdeen's call

I think I can provide examples, please correct them if they're wrong.

Two people are talking about two firemen:
"How old is the fireman?"
"Which one? The fireman who works outside the town is quite old. The other one, the fireman who works in the town, is very young."
Note that you need paired commas around a non-restrictive clause if it's parenthetical.

I got to know two people today, a policeman and a fireman. The policeman, who works outside the town, is quite old. The fireman, who works in the town, is very young.

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R.

Thanks, Raymott!
Why is the comma between "policeman"(comma?) and "and" incorrect? Isn't a serial comma? The idea of the serial comma is strange to me because we don't have it in my language. I thought that's how I should use it...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by birdeen's call

Thanks, Raymott!
Why is the comma between "policeman"(comma?) and "and" incorrect? Isn't a serial comma? The idea of the serial comma is strange to me because we don't have it in my language. I thought that's how I should use it...

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No, that is not a serial comma. You don't put a comma between only two items, and you need at least three items for a serial comma.
This is a serial comma: I got to know three people today - a politician, a policeman, and a fireman.
If you got to know "two people, a policeman, and fireman", that's four people altogether.

[QUOTE=reusableobject;637276]Hi,

Quick question on defining and non-defining relative clauses.

The fireman who works in the town is very young?
or
The fireman, who works in the town, is very young?

Which is correct? First, second or both -depending on context.

I'd appreciate your input?

Thanks

(The fireman who works in the town is very young?) is correct.