What is a nonessential clause? Comma rules and examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

📌 A nonessential clause adds extra information to a sentence but isn't crucial to its core meaning. The sentence still makes sense without it. ✏️ Nonessential clauses are always set off by commas (or dashes or parentheses, but mostly commas!). 📝 If the nonessential clause is in the middle of the sentence, it needs a comma before and after. 📍 If it's at the end, it needs a comma before it. 💡 Think of it like a little parenthetical remark within your sentence.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences correctly uses commas with a nonessential clause?
   1. A. My dog who is a golden retriever loves to play fetch.
   2. B. My dog, who is a golden retriever, loves to play fetch.
   3. C. My dog who is a golden retriever, loves to play fetch.
   4. D. My dog, who is a golden retriever loves to play fetch.
2. Identify the nonessential clause in the following sentence: "The book, which I borrowed from the library, was very interesting."
   1. A. The book
   2. B. was very interesting
   3. C. which I borrowed from the library
   4. D. from the library
3. Which sentence is correct?
   1. A. The car, that I bought last week is already having problems.
   2. B. The car that I bought last week, is already having problems.
   3. C. The car that I bought last week is already having problems.
   4. D. The car, that I bought last week, is already having problems.
4. Which of the following sentences needs commas to correctly set off a nonessential clause?
   1. A. Students who study hard usually do well.
   2. B. My sister who lives in New York is a doctor.
   3. C. The house which is on the corner is for sale.
   4. D. My oldest brother, who is a lawyer, lives in Chicago.
5. Choose the sentence with correct comma usage.
   1. A. The movie although long was enjoyable.
   2. B. The movie, although long, was enjoyable.
   3. C. The movie although long, was enjoyable.
   4. D. The movie, although, long was enjoyable.
6. Which sentence contains a correctly punctuated nonessential clause at the end?
   1. A. She finished the race exhausted but happy.
   2. B. She finished the race, exhausted but happy.
   3. C. She finished the race exhausted, but happy.
   4. D. She finished the race, exhausted, but happy.
7. Which sentence has no nonessential clauses?
   1. A. My aunt, who is a chef, makes delicious pastries.
   2. B. The painting, which hung in the gallery, was sold.
   3. C. All students must pass the exam.
   4. D. The dog, a playful golden retriever, loves to chase balls.