Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses: Rules and Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

🔍 A restrictive clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence. It limits or identifies the noun it modifies. It is NOT set off by commas.

💡 A nonrestrictive clause provides extra information about the noun it modifies, but it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. It is set off by commas.

📝 Key Difference: Commas! If you can remove the clause and the sentence still makes sense, it's nonrestrictive and needs commas. If removing the clause changes the core meaning, it's restrictive and doesn't need commas.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains a restrictive clause?
   1. My brother, who lives in Chicago, is a doctor.
   2. The book that I borrowed from the library is overdue.
   3. My cat, a fluffy Persian, loves to sleep.
   4. This cake, which is delicious, was baked by my sister.
2. Which of the following sentences contains a nonrestrictive clause?
   1. The car that is parked outside is mine.
   2. My teacher, Ms. Johnson, is very helpful.
   3. The movie which won the award was fantastic.
   4. The student who studies hard will succeed.
3. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
   1. The house, that is on the corner, is for sale.
   2. The house that is on the corner is for sale.
   3. The house, that is on the corner is for sale.
   4. The house that, is on the corner, is for sale.
4. Identify the restrictive clause in the following sentence: "The student who scored the highest on the test received a prize."
   1. The student
   2. who scored the highest on the test
   3. received a prize
   4. the highest on the test
5. Identify the nonrestrictive clause in the following sentence: "My dog, a golden retriever, loves to play fetch."
   1. My dog
   2. loves to play fetch
   3. a golden retriever
   4. My dog, a golden retriever
6. Which sentence uses commas correctly with a nonrestrictive clause?
   1. The painting, which I bought yesterday is beautiful.
   2. The painting which I bought yesterday, is beautiful.
   3. The painting, which I bought yesterday, is beautiful.
   4. The painting which I bought yesterday is beautiful.
7. Choose the sentence that correctly uses a restrictive clause.
   1. Apples, that are red, are my favorite.
   2. Apples that are red are my favorite.
   3. Apples, that are red are my favorite.
   4. Apples that, are red, are my favorite.