Explain the concept of 'omission' in non-defining relative clauses.

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Explain the concept of 'omission' in non-defining relative clauses.

In non-defining relative clauses, the concept of 'omission' refers to the removal of certain elements from the relative clause that are not necessary for understanding the main sentence. Non-defining relative clauses provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main sentence, but they do not define or identify the noun or pronoun.

When using non-defining relative clauses, it is important to understand that the information provided is not essential for the sentence's meaning. Therefore, any elements that are not crucial can be omitted without affecting the overall understanding of the sentence.

One common element that is often omitted in non-defining relative clauses is the relative pronoun 'that' or 'which.' These pronouns are used to introduce the relative clause and connect it to the main sentence. However, in non-defining relative clauses, they can be omitted if the relative clause is not restrictive or essential to the sentence's meaning.

For example:
- The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris, is a famous landmark. (non-defining relative clause)
- The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark. (omission of the relative pronoun 'which')

In the above example, the non-defining relative clause provides additional information about the Eiffel Tower, but it is not necessary for understanding the main sentence. Therefore, the relative pronoun 'which' can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Another element that can be omitted in non-defining relative clauses is the subject of the relative clause. This occurs when the subject of the relative clause is the same as the subject of the main sentence. In such cases, the subject can be omitted, and the verb in the relative clause is changed to its base form.

For example:
- John, who is my brother, is a doctor. (non-defining relative clause)
- John is a doctor. (omission of the subject 'who is my brother')

In this example, the non-defining relative clause provides additional information about John, but the subject 'who is my brother' can be omitted since it is the same as the subject in the main sentence.

In summary, 'omission' in non-defining relative clauses refers to the removal of non-essential elements such as relative pronouns or subjects that are not crucial for understanding the main sentence. This omission helps to streamline the sentence and make it more concise while still providing additional information.