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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a relative pronoun in a sentence?
What is the primary function of a relative pronoun in a sentence?
Which of the following clauses is set off by commas?
Which of the following clauses is set off by commas?
What type of clause is essential to the sentence's meaning and cannot be removed without changing its basic meaning?
What type of clause is essential to the sentence's meaning and cannot be removed without changing its basic meaning?
Which relative pronoun is used to show possession, referring to people, animals, and objects?
Which relative pronoun is used to show possession, referring to people, animals, and objects?
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What is the purpose of a nonessential clause in a sentence?
What is the purpose of a nonessential clause in a sentence?
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Which of the following is an example of a nonessential clause?
Which of the following is an example of a nonessential clause?
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What is the primary function of a relative clause in a sentence?
What is the primary function of a relative clause in a sentence?
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Which type of relative clause cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning?
Which type of relative clause cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning?
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What is the purpose of commas in relation to relative clauses?
What is the purpose of commas in relation to relative clauses?
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Which relative pronoun is used for both people and things?
Which relative pronoun is used for both people and things?
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In what type of writing is it more common to omit the relative pronoun?
In what type of writing is it more common to omit the relative pronoun?
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What is the function of the relative pronoun 'whose'?
What is the function of the relative pronoun 'whose'?
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Study Notes
Nonessential Clauses
- A nonessential clause, also known as a nonrestrictive clause, provides additional information about the sentence, but it is not essential to the sentence's meaning.
- Nonessential clauses are typically set off by commas.
- They can be removed from the sentence without changing its basic meaning.
- Example: "The teacher, who was wearing a red hat, gave the lesson." (The clause "who was wearing a red hat" is nonessential, providing additional information about the teacher.)
Relative Pronouns
- Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses.
- The most common relative pronouns are:
- Who (for people)
- Which (for animals, objects, and ideas)
- That (for people, animals, objects, and ideas)
- Whom (for the object of a verb or preposition, referring to people)
- Whose (for possession, referring to people, animals, and objects)
- Relative pronouns replace the noun or pronoun in the sentence, connecting the dependent clause to the independent clause.
- Example: "The book, which is on the table, is mine." (The relative pronoun "which" replaces the noun "book" and connects the dependent clause to the independent clause.)
Restrictive Clauses
- A restrictive clause, also known as an essential clause, provides essential information about the sentence and is necessary to its meaning.
- Restrictive clauses are not set off by commas.
- They cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its basic meaning.
- Example: "The book that is on the table is mine." (The clause "that is on the table" is restrictive, providing essential information about which book is being referred to.)
- Restrictive clauses can be used to identify a specific noun or pronoun, and to clarify the meaning of the sentence.
Nonessential Clauses
- Provide additional information about the sentence, but are not essential to its meaning.
- Typically set off by commas.
- Can be removed from the sentence without changing its basic meaning.
- Example: "The teacher, who was wearing a red hat, gave the lesson."
Relative Pronouns
- Used to introduce relative clauses.
- Common relative pronouns:
- Who (for people)
- Which (for animals, objects, and ideas)
- That (for people, animals, objects, and ideas)
- Whom (for the object of a verb or preposition, referring to people)
- Whose (for possession, referring to people, animals, and objects)
- Replace the noun or pronoun in the sentence, connecting the dependent clause to the independent clause.
- Example: "The book, which is on the table, is mine."
Restrictive Clauses
- Provide essential information about the sentence and are necessary to its meaning.
- Not set off by commas.
- Cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its basic meaning.
- Example: "The book that is on the table is mine."
- Used to identify a specific noun or pronoun, and to clarify the meaning of the sentence.
Relative Clauses
- A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that begins with a relative pronoun and provides additional information about a noun in the main clause.
Types of Relative Clauses
Defining Relative Clauses
- Provide essential information about the noun they modify.
- Cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning.
- Examples:
- The book, which is on the table, is mine.
- The woman who is smiling is my sister.
Non-Defining Relative Clauses
- Provide additional, but not essential, information about the noun they modify.
- Can be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning.
- Examples:
- The book, which I read last week, is on the table.
- My sister, who is a doctor, is very smart.
Relative Pronouns
Who
- Used for people.
- Example: The student who got the highest grade is very happy.
Whom
- Used for people, but as an object.
- Example: The student whom I met yesterday is very nice.
Whose
- Used to show possession.
- Example: The student whose book is on the table is very smart.
Which
- Used for things.
- Example: The book, which is on the table, is mine.
That
- Used for both people and things.
- Example: The student that got the highest grade is very happy.
Omitting the Relative Pronoun
- In some cases, the relative pronoun can be omitted, especially in informal writing.
- Example: The book I read last week is on the table.
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Description
Understand the concept of nonessential clauses in English grammar, their purpose, and how to identify them. Learn about the role of commas in setting off nonessential clauses.
