What are Nonrestrictive Clauses? Definition and Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Nonrestrictive clauses add extra, non-essential information to a sentence.
• ✏️ They are always set off by commas.
• 💡 Removing a nonrestrictive clause doesn't change the sentence's core meaning.
• 🌍 They often begin with 'which,' 'who,' or 'whose.'
• 📝 Can also be phrases starting with prepositions like 'including' or 'such as'.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains a nonrestrictive clause?
   1. The book that I borrowed from the library is overdue.
   2. My sister, who lives in Chicago, is a doctor.
   3. The dog that barks all night belongs to my neighbor.
   4. Students who study hard usually get good grades.


2. Which word or phrase is most commonly used to introduce a nonrestrictive clause referring to things?
   1. That
   2. Who
   3. Which
   4. Whose


3. Identify the nonrestrictive clause in the following sentence: "The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is a popular tourist attraction."
   1. The Eiffel Tower
   2. which is in Paris
   3. is a popular tourist attraction
   4. The Eiffel Tower, which


4. Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause?
   1. My friend John who plays guitar is in a band.
   2. My friend, John, who plays guitar, is in a band.
   3. My friend, John who plays guitar is in a band.
   4. My friend John, who plays guitar, is in a band.


5. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a nonrestrictive clause?
   1. Adds extra information
   2. Is essential to the meaning of the sentence
   3. Is set off by commas
   4. Can be removed without changing the core meaning


6. Choose the sentence where the clause provides extra information that is NOT essential:
   1. The car that he bought was red.
   2. My uncle, who is a pilot, flew us to Las Vegas.
   3. The house that is on the corner is for sale.
   4. The shoes that I wore were uncomfortable.


7. Which of the following sentences uses a nonrestrictive clause correctly to add detail about a place?
   1. London that is a very big city has many attractions.
   2. London, which is a very big city, has many attractions.
   3. London which is a very big city has many attractions.
   4. London which, is a very big city, has many attractions.