Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clause Punctuation

When do we use commas?

There are two different types of relative clauses that require different punctuation: restrictive and nonrestrictive.

Restrictive clauses: narrow down or clarify the subject, change the basic meaning of the sentence when removed, and should not be set off by commas.

example: "The girls who had aced their math tests celebrated with ice cream."

-Clarifies subject: only the girls who had aced their math tests did this, those who did poorly did not

-Changes meaning when removed: "The girls celebrated with ice cream"

-Not set off by commas

Restrictive clauses: narrow down or clarify the subject, change the basic meaning of the sentence when removed, and should not be set off by commas.

example: "The girls who had aced their math tests celebrated with ice cream."

-Clarifies subject: only the girls who had aced their math tests did this, those who did poorly did not

-Changes meaning when removed: "The girls celebrated with ice cream"

-Not set off by commas

Nonrestrictive clauses: add unnecessary detail about the subject, leave the basic meaning of the sentence intact when removed, and must be set off by commas.

example: "Katie, my brother's girlfriend, gave me a sketchbook for my birthday."

-Unnecessary detail: knowing that Katie is her brother's girlfriend is unnecessary to understand the sentence

-Meaning remains intact when removed: "Katie gave me a sketchbook for my birthday"

-Set off by commas

Nonrestrictive clauses: add unnecessary detail about the subject, leave the basic meaning of the sentence intact when removed, and must be set off by commas.

example: "Katie, my brother's girlfriend, gave me a sketchbook for my birthday."

-Unnecessary detail: knowing that Katie is her brother's girlfriend is unnecessary to understand the sentence

-Meaning remains intact when removed: "Katie gave me a sketchbook for my birthday"

-Set off by commas

Now let's test your knowledge!

Which type of clause is in the following sentence: "The boys who loved soccer played pickup games every weekend"?

Restrictive

Nonrestrictive

I have only one older brother. Is the punctuation in the following sentence correct: "My older brother who plays baseball hung out with his best friend yesterday"?

Yes

Which sentence contains a nonrestrictive clause?

Finland, which is a Scandinavian country, just elected a new president.

Finland which is a Scandinavian country just elected a new president.

Is the punctuation in the following sentence correct: "Dogs, which weigh under 30 pounds, are allowed to live in the apartment complex"?

Yes

Which type of clause is in the following sentence: "My brother, who goes to UCLA, studies chemistry"?

Restrictive

Nonrestrictive

I have two grandmothers. Is the punctuation in the following sentence correct: "My grandmother who has Alzheimer's just moved to the nursing home"?

Yes

Which of the following sentences contains a restrictive clause?

My roommate who has dark hair helped me clean the kitchen.

My roommate, who has dark hair, helped me clean the kitchen.

Not all students like math. Is the punctuation in the following sentence correct: "The students, who like math, always pay close attention during geometry lessons"?

Yes

Which type of clause is in the following sentence: "My favorite actor, who gives a lot to charity, is starring in a new comedy show"?

Restrictive

Nonrestrictive

Is the punctuation in the following sentence correct: "Teachers, whose favorite subject is science, have their students perform more lab experiments"?

Yes

Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clause Punctuation

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