B1 · Module 04 · Class 14 — The Ones Who Matter
Narrative Scene
End of Week One — Hotel Room, Bogotá Seven interviews in five days. Santiago sits on the bed with a legal pad, reviewing his notes. Marco is at the desk, laptop open, trying to draft the stakeholder map that Elena has asked for by Friday.
"I don't know how to describe these people without just listing facts," Marco says. "Every sentence feels like a bullet point."
Santiago looks at what he's written. "The problem is you're writing two sentences where you need one. When you add extra information about a person — context, background, a detail that makes them more real — that goes inside the sentence, not after it."
"Like a footnote?" "More like a parenthesis. But grammatical." Santiago takes the legal pad. "Watch. 'Rodrigo Méndez oversees concessions. He signed the northern corridor deal in 2022.' — that's two facts. Now: 'Rodrigo Méndez, who signed the northern corridor deal in 2022, oversees concessions.' Same information. One sentence. And it doesn't change the main point."
Marco looks at the screen. "So the clause between the commas is optional?" "Grammatically — yes. But rhetorically — essential." |
Vocabulary | ||
supplementary | /ˌsʌplɪˈmentəri/ | Providing additional information that completes or supports the main content |
parenthetical remark | /ˌpærənˈθetɪkəl rɪˈmɑːk/ | An aside or additional comment inserted into a sentence without changing its main meaning |
appositive | /əˈpɒzɪtɪv/ | A noun phrase placed beside another to describe it — similar function to a non-defining clause |
implication | /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən/ | A conclusion or consequence that follows logically from a fact or finding |
systemic | /sɪˈstemɪk/ | Relating to a whole system rather than an isolated part; widespread within a structure |
tier | /tɪə/ | A level or rank in a hierarchy; Tier 1 stakeholders are the most influential |
administer | /ədˈmɪnɪstə/ | To manage and be responsible for the implementation of a system, policy, or fund |
implementation | /ˌɪmplɪmenˈteɪʃən/ | The process of putting a decision, plan, or policy into effect |
sector participant | /ˈsektə pɑːˈtɪsɪpənt/ | A company or individual that operates within a specific industry or market |
cautious interest | /ˈkɔːʃəs ˈɪntrəst/ | An expression of potential willingness to proceed, but with reservations or conditions |
Non-Defining Relative Clauses
A non-defining relative clause adds EXTRA information about a noun that is already fully identified. It can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence. It always appears between commas (or between a comma and a full stop).
DEFINING (no commas) | NON-DEFINING (always commas) |
"The director who manages concessions is unavailable." (tells us WHICH director) | "Rodrigo Méndez, who manages concessions, is unavailable." (Méndez already identified; clause adds context) |
"The report that flagged the risk was from 2024." (tells us WHICH report) | "The Q2 report, which flagged a regulatory risk, was well received." (Q2 report already known; clause adds detail) |
"The office where interviews took place is in Zona Rosa." | "Parque de la 93, where our office is based, is a central Bogotá district." |
"The analyst whose data we used has since left." (identifying WHICH analyst) | "Dr Ariana Voss, whose data we used throughout, has since left the firm." |
The Three Rules of Non-Defining Clauses1. ALWAYS use commas. "Grupo Celanova, which controls 340 km of toll roads, is the largest operator in the region." 2. NEVER use "that". Use who (person) or which (thing) only. ✗ "Méndez, that signed the deal, oversees concessions." 3. The clause CAN be removed. The main sentence must still make complete sense without it. |
Special Uses of Non-Defining Clauses
Non-defining clauses can also refer to an ENTIRE previous clause (using "which" at the start of a new clause). This is very common in formal reports.
Clause-referring "which" — Formal Reports which suggests that — draws a conclusion from the previous clause "Three of the seven interviewees raised the same concern, which suggests that the risk is systemic." which means that — states the implication "The regulatory body changed its procedures in Q1, which means that our timeline may need to be revised." which confirms that — uses a fact as evidence "Deal volume increased by 34%, which confirms that investor appetite is returning to the sector." which is consistent with — aligns with other findings "Margins tightened across all three markets, which is consistent with the national trend reported in Q4." |
"Whose" in Non-Defining Clauses"Whose" works the same in both defining and non-defining clauses — it shows possession. In non-defining clauses, use commas and never replace with "that's".
"Marco Peña, whose analysis of the northern corridor proved critical, was promoted at the end of the engagement."
"Grupo Celanova, whose CEO resigned in February, is currently under scrutiny from the regulatory authority." |
Phrasal Verbslook into — to investigate or examine something more closely "Marco was asked to look into the discrepancy between the two datasets before the next interview." come across — to find or encounter something unexpectedly "During the Bogotá interviews, the team came across a regulatory document that contradicted the official position." flag up — to draw attention to a problem, concern, or important issue "Rodrigo Méndez flagged up a pending bill that had not appeared in any of our pre-fieldwork research." |
Phase 2 Stakeholder Map (Extract)
Read this extract from the stakeholder map Santiago sent to Elena. Identify all non-defining relative clauses and note what extra information each one adds.
ALTIUS CONSULTING GROUP — PHASE 2 FIELDWORK Stakeholder Map — Week One Summary Colombia (Bogotá) | 25–29 April 2026 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
TIER 1 — DECISION MAKERS
Rodrigo Méndez, who serves as Director of Infrastructure Concessions at Grupo Celanova, is the most significant contact identified to date. Grupo Celanova, which controls approximately 340 km of toll road concessions, is the largest private infrastructure operator in the Colombian market. Méndez, whose approval is required for all third-party investment proposals, expressed cautious interest in Vantage's proposed entry structure.
TIER 2 — REGULATORY CONTACTS
Dr Catalina Restrepo, who leads the infrastructure division of the national investment agency, confirmed that a new approval framework is under development. The existing framework, which was introduced in 2019, is considered outdated by most sector participants. Dr Restrepo, whose division will administer the new framework, indicated that implementation is expected before end of Q4.
TIER 3 — SECTOR SPECIALISTS
Three independent analysts were interviewed, each of whom provided data on toll road usage patterns. The analysts' projections, which were broadly consistent with Altius's own modelling, suggest that traffic volume on the northern corridor will increase by 18–22% over the next five years, which is above the figure used in the original Vantage proposal.
Prepared by: Santiago Reyes / Marco Peña | Altius Consulting Group |
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