Show Relative Pronouns: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive ClausesTIP Sheet The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, and that. Relative pronouns introduce subordinate clauses functioning as adjectives. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive subordinate clauses, and do not use commas to set off restrictive clauses. The choice of relative pronouns is determined by the way the pronoun is used and the noun or pronoun to which it refers. Who, which, and that take verbs that agree with their antecedents. 1. Relative pronouns introduce subordinate clauses functioning as adjectives. The man who robbed us was never caught. In addition to introducing the clause, the relative pronoun, in
this case Relative pronouns are sometimes "understood." The things [that] we know best are the things [that] we haven't been taught. 2. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive elements. Do not use commas to set off restrictive elements. A restrictive element defines or limits the meaning of the word it modifies and is therefore essential to the meaning of the sentence. Because it contains essential information, a restrictive element is not set off with commas. Restrictive: For camp the children need clothes that are washable. If you remove a restrictive element from a sentence, the meaning changes significantly, becoming more general than you intended. The writer of the example sentence does not mean that the children need clothes in general. The intended meaning is more limited: The children need washable clothes. Nonrestrictive: For camp the children need sturdy shoes, which are expensive. A nonrestrictive element describes a noun or pronoun whose meaning has already been clearly defined or limited. Because it contains nonessential or parenthetical information, a nonrestrictive element is set off with commas. If you remove a nonrestrictive element from a sentence, the meaning does not change significantly. The children need sturdy shoes, and these happen to be expensive. 3. The choice of that, which, who, or whom is dependent upon the way in which the pronoun is used within the sentence, as well as the noun or pronoun to which it refers. In general, use that with restrictive clauses and which with nonrestrictive clauses. Do not use which to refer to persons. Use who instead. That, though generally used to refer to things, may be used to refer to a group or class of people. Fans wondered how an old man who (not that or which) walked with a limp could play football. Who is used for subjects and subject complements; whom is used for objects. Who is bringing what for whom? 4. Who, which, and that take verbs that agree with their antecedents. Take a suit that travels well. (A suit... travels well.) Sometimes problems occur when one of the and only one of the are used. Generally, one of the is treated as plural, and only one of the is treated as singular. Our ability to use language is one of the things that set us apart from animals. The antecedent of that is things, not one. Several things set us apart from animals, and language is one of them. Carmen is the only one of the applicants who has the ability to step into this position. The antecedent of who is one, not applicants. Only one applicant, Carmen, has the ability to step into the position. Use a comma (or a pair of commas) to set off elements that are nonessential (also called nonrestrictive). A phrase or clause is nonessential if it can be removed without changing the main idea of the sentence; a nonessential element just adds a relatively unimportant detail. Essential (or restrictive) elements, on the other hand, are not set off by commas because they are too important to be removed from a sentence. Nonessential participial phrases describe nouns, but the information they provide about those nouns is not very important. Use a comma (or a pair of commas) to separate a nonessential participial phrase from the rest of the sentence. If you remove the participial phrase walking slowly from either of these sentences, the main idea of the sentence (the tourists followed the guide through the museum) doesn't change. Essential (or restrictive) participial phrases also describe nouns, but they tell us vital information about those nouns. Do not use commas around essential participial phrases. Only the tourists eating ice cream
cones were not allowed in. If you removed the phrase eating ice cream cones, the meaning of the sentence would change—it would mean that none of the tourists was let in, which is very different from the original sentence. Use commas to separate nonessential adjective phrases from the rest of the sentence. These phrases can be
prepositional or verbal.
Do not use commas to separate essential adjective phrases from the rest of the sentence.
AppositivesUse commas to separate nonessential appositives from the rest of the sentence. My Latin teacher, Mr. Virga, gives us homework every night. Do not use commas to separate essential appositives from the rest of the sentence. My friend Elizabeth is one of the nicest people I know. Adjective ClausesUse commas to set off nonessential adjective clauses. In American English many authors use which to start nonessential clauses and that to start essential clauses. Joey ordered frozen yogurt, which he thinks is healthier, instead of ice cream. It's not necessary to set off an essential adjective clause with commas. The painting that my mom bought in France is still waiting to be framed. Practice What You've LearnedDirections:One or more commas have been omitted from each of the following sentences. Insert a comma (or commas) by clicking the space(s) after the appropriate word(s).1. Caught, between, two, worlds, the, immigrants, landed.2.This, solution, will, work, in, my, opinion, but, the, cost, will, be, high.3.Ms., Jones, who, is, my, English, teacher, is, being, nominated, for, teacher, of, the, year.4.Encouraged, by, the, good, news, the, team, vowed, to, win.5.The, road, to, success, I, have, found, is, paved, with, hard, work.6.Fearing, the, dark, the, children, quickened, their, pace.7.John, Glenn, US, senator, and, astronaut, is, a, national, hero.8.John, will, come, to, understand, if, he, has, any, sense, at, all, that, he, has, been, wrong.9.A, letter, of, appreciation, was, sent, to, Jane, Whitney, our, chairperson.10.The, school, which, is, on, Main, Street, was, damaged, in, the, January, earthquake. Why the phrase in this sentence is nonrestrictive or nonessential to the sentence My youngest brother Julian is already taller than I am?Explain why the phrase in this sentence is non-restrictive, or nonessential to the sentence: my youngest brother, Julian, is already taller than I am. The name "Julian" is not necessary in the sentence. The writer can have only one youngest brother, so the name "Julian" is extra information.
Which element in the sentence is nonrestrictive?Nonrestrictive elements are groups of words that can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Because removing them does not change meaning, nonrestrictive elements can be set off from the rest of the sentence. CORRECT: I'd like to have more pets, but I only have one cat, Bill.
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Explain why the phrase in this sentence is nonrestrictive or nonessential to the sentence
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