Non-Essential Clause Examples: When to Enclose with Commas

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 📌 A non-essential clause (also called a nonrestrictive clause) adds extra information to a sentence, but it's not crucial for understanding the main point.
• ✍️ Non-essential clauses are always set off with commas. Think of them as parenthetical elements.
• 💡 If you remove a non-essential clause, the core meaning of the sentence remains the same.
• 🔎 Use the "that" vs. "which" test. "Which" often introduces non-essential clauses (and needs a comma), while "that" introduces essential clauses (no comma needed).
• ✏️ Examples:
  • Non-essential: My cat, who is very fluffy, loves to sleep.
  • Essential: The cat that is sleeping is named Mittens.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly with a non-essential clause?
   1. My brother who lives in Chicago is a doctor.
   2. My brother, who lives in Chicago, is a doctor.
   3. My brother who lives, in Chicago is a doctor.
   4. My brother, who lives, in Chicago is a doctor.
2. Identify the sentence where the clause in commas is non-essential:
   1. The book, that I borrowed from the library, is overdue.
   2. The book that I borrowed from the library is overdue.
   3. The book, which I borrowed from the library, is overdue.
   4. The book which I borrowed from the library, is overdue.
3. Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off a non-essential appositive phrase?
   1. My friend Sarah is a talented artist.
   2. My friend, Sarah, is a talented artist.
   3. My friend, Sarah is a talented artist.
   4. My friend Sarah, is a talented artist.
4. Choose the sentence that needs commas to correctly punctuate the non-essential clause:
   1. The dog that barked all night kept me awake.
   2. The dog, that barked all night, kept me awake.
   3. The dog which barked all night kept me awake.
   4. The dog, which barked all night, kept me awake.
5. In which sentence is the information within the commas extra and not vital to the sentence's meaning?
   1. The student who studies hard will succeed.
   2. The student, who studies hard, will succeed.
   3. The student that studies hard, will succeed.
   4. The student, that studies hard will succeed.
6. Select the sentence that uses commas correctly to indicate a non-essential phrase:
   1. The car, which is red is mine.
   2. The car which is red, is mine.
   3. The car, which is red, is mine.
   4. The car which is red is mine.
7. Which of these sentences correctly uses commas with a non-essential clause providing additional information about a person?
   1. My teacher Mr. Jones is very knowledgeable.
   2. My teacher, Mr. Jones, is very knowledgeable.
   3. My teacher, Mr. Jones is very knowledgeable.
   4. My teacher Mr. Jones, is very knowledgeable.