my father, who is a policeman is retiring now. vs My father who is a policeman is retiring now

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings depending on the use of the comma. The first phrase with the comma suggests that the speaker has only one father, and the fact that he is a policeman is additional information. The second phrase without the comma implies that the speaker has multiple fathers, and the fact that one of them is a policeman is the defining characteristic.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 702 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. The comma before 'who' sets off the non-defining relative clause, providing additional information about the father.

"my father, who is a policeman is retiring now."

This phrase is used when the speaker has only one father, and the fact that he is a policeman is additional information.

Examples:

My friend, who is a doctor, is coming to visit us.
The cat, which is black, is sleeping on the couch.

Show examples from the web [+]

Kasuke, your father is a policeman
It made me laugh! - There is a policeman...
Let's assume that the killer is a policeman.
At 11am, my friend will come by and he is a policeman.
On arrival at the hospital, they are to understand he is a policeman.
Excuse me, there is a policeman that is standing in front of our son's room, and he is not letting us in.
What is a policeman doing wearing a Zegna suit?
A policeman is wanted for kidnapping his son 5 days ago.
A policeman is looking for a girl.
If when you see a policeman is melancholy, get sick.
Shooting a policeman is never good for business.
My father, who always brought good justice to everyone...
He was looking for my father, who had disappeared again...
Especially if you think of my father, who was brilliant at speeches.
My father, who protected him... told everyone my bedding caught fire.
Permit me to introduce my father, who flew in this morning from Petersburg.
My father, who emigrated in 1931, changed it into English.
It was from my father, who is very ill.
For my father, who burns in hell.
Ahab told me that my father, who first pitched.

Alternatives:

My father, who is a policeman, is retiring now.
My father, who happens to be a policeman, is retiring now.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. The lack of a comma before 'who' indicates that the relative clause is defining, specifying which father is retiring.

"My father who is a policeman is retiring now"

This phrase is used when the speaker has multiple fathers, and the fact that one of them is a policeman is the defining characteristic.

Examples:

I have three brothers who are engineers.
She is the only student who passed the exam.

Show examples from the web [+]

Kasuke, your father is a policeman
It made me laugh! - There is a policeman...
Let's assume that the killer is a policeman.
At 11am, my friend will come by and he is a policeman.
On arrival at the hospital, they are to understand he is a policeman.
Excuse me, there is a policeman that is standing in front of our son's room, and he is not letting us in.
What is a policeman doing wearing a Zegna suit?
A policeman is wanted for kidnapping his son 5 days ago.
A policeman is looking for a girl.
If when you see a policeman is melancholy, get sick.
Shooting a policeman is never good for business.
I was reading that one person at the eat-off is a policeman and one is a realtor.
If a policeman is killed in Dallas, and they have no clue to guide.
But killing a policeman is big news on both sides of the law.
And I can't believe a policeman is going to give themselves a ticket.
(Woman): Mr. Racken, a policeman is here.
Being a policeman is not what you see on TV.
Living with my father who crippled me emotionally.
My father was also a policeman.
My father worked as a policeman in the city.

Alternatives:

My father who is a policeman is retiring now.
My father, who is the policeman, is retiring now.

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my father, who is a policeman is retiring now. vs My father who is a policeman is retiring now

"my father, who is a policeman is retiring now."

"My father who is a policeman is retiring now"

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