A non-restrictive relative clause adds extra information about a noun that is already identified. You could remove the clause and the sentence would still make sense, just with less detail. In Spanish, non-restrictive clauses are always set off by commas, and they permit a wider range of relative pronouns than restrictive clauses do.
The Key Difference: Commas
The clearest signal that a relative clause is non-restrictive is the presence of commas around it. The clause acts like an aside, offering extra context rather than identifying which one.
In this sentence, I only have one brother (or the listener already knows which one). The information about Chile is extra. If I dropped it, the sentence would still identify him clearly.
Compare that to a restrictive version:
El hermano que vive en Chile es médico.
The brother who lives in Chile is a doctor.
Without commas, the clause is restrictive: it tells you which brother out of several.
Que in Non-Restrictive Clauses
Que works perfectly well in non-restrictive clauses, just like in restrictive ones. The only difference is that you must use commas.
La torta, que estaba deliciosa, se acabó rápido.
The cake, which was delicious, finished quickly.
This is the most common choice in everyday Spanish. Native speakers use que with commas far more than the alternatives.
Quien for People
When the antecedent is a person, non-restrictive clauses often use quien (plural quienes) instead of que. This feels slightly more formal but is very common in writing.
Mi profesora, quien nació en Perú, habla quechua.
My teacher, who was born in Peru, speaks Quechua.
El Cual and Its Forms
The more formal relatives el cual, la cual, los cuales, las cuales are also possible in non-restrictive clauses. They agree in gender and number with the antecedent, and they are especially useful when you want to make the reference crystal clear.
Madrid, la cual es la capital de España, tiene muchos museos.
Madrid, which is the capital of Spain, has many museums.
Los libros, los cuales compré ayer, están sobre la mesa.
The books, which I bought yesterday, are on the table.
El cual feels written and formal. In everyday speech, most people would simply use que here.
Comparing the Options
| Pronoun | Use | Register |
|---|---|---|
| que | people and things | all levels, most common |
| quien / quienes | people only | slightly formal |
| el cual (etc.) | people and things | formal / written |
Why Commas Matter
The presence or absence of commas can completely change meaning. Read these two sentences carefully.
Los alumnos que estudian aprueban.
The students who study pass. (only the ones who study)
Los alumnos, que estudian, aprueban.
The students, who (all) study, pass. (all of them study and all pass)
For a refresher on the no-comma version, see Restrictive Relative Clauses.
Related Topics
- Restrictive Relative ClausesB1 — Learn how restrictive relative clauses identify and specify nouns without commas in Spanish.
- Relative Clauses with PrepositionsB2 — Choose between que, el que, el cual, and quien when a relative clause follows a preposition.
- Subjunctive in Relative ClausesB2 — Use the subjunctive in relative clauses when the antecedent is unknown, hypothetical, or nonexistent.
- Cuyo in Relative ClausesB2 — Use cuyo, cuya, cuyos, and cuyas to express 'whose' in formal Spanish relative clauses.
- El Que and El CualB2 — Longer relative forms used for emphasis or after prepositions