I'd like to thank my friends, who truly have bettered my life.

[alpacinou]

Which one is correct?

1. I'd like to thank my friends, who truly have bettered my life.
2. I'd like to thank my friends who truly have bettered my life.

 

[emsr2d2]

They're both possible but they don't mean the same. Can you work out the difference?

 

[alpacinou]

Can you work out the difference?

Not really.

I think with comma, it would be like we're adding extra information. Without comma, we have a defining adjective clause. Is there a big difference in terms of meaning?

 

[emsr2d2]

In sentence #1, you're thanking all your friends and saying that they've bettered your life.
In sentence #2, you're thanking only those friends who have bettered your life. You have other friends who haven't done so.