1. Restrictive and Non-restrictive Clauses
A.K.A. adjective clauses

2. Restrictive Clause
A restrictive modifying clause (or essential clause) is an adjective clause that is essential to the meaning of a sentence because it limits the thing it refers to.
Starts with a relative pronoun (see SAM sheet)
The meaning of the sentence would change if the clause were deleted.
Because restrictive clauses are essential, they are not set off by commas.

3. Examples
Candy that contains chocolate is dangerous to dogs.  (True for one type of candy.)
People who have a "sweet tooth" consume too much sugar.  (True for one type of people.)
All students who do their work should pass easily.
The car that I want is out of my price range.

4. Non-restrictive Clause
A non-restrictive modifying clause (or nonessential clause) is an adjective clause that adds extra or nonessential information to a sentence.
Starts with a relative pronoun (see SAM sheet)
The meaning of the sentence would not change if the clause were to be omitted.
Nonrestrictive modifying clauses are set off by commas.

5. Examples
Candy, which is a sweet, is irresistible to children. (True of all candy.)
People, who don't always do what is good for them, consume too much sugar. (True of all people)
Nolan Ryan, who made the Hall of Fame as a pitcher, owns his own beef company. (non- essential info)
The table, which is broken, is sitting in the garage.

6. Restrictive or Non-restrictive?
1. The dog that has black and white spots was found in the park.
2. The Janninos, who moved here years ago, are our best friends.
3. I enjoy the painting that hangs in the hall.
4. Sarah, whose essay won first prize, also paints.
5. Volleyball, which was originally called mintonette, was invented in 1895.
6. Refined sugar is a food that has no nutrition.

7. Let’s sum up… Restrictive: Non-Restrictive
Starts with a relative pronoun
Uses no commas
The meaning of the sentence would change if the clause was taken out.
Non-Restrictive
Uses commas
Gives “extra, non-essential” information
The meaning of the sentence would NOT
change if the clause was taken out.

8. Practice Time!
Write down your answers. Label each sentence “R” or “NR”.
The boy whom you saw in the play is my brother.
The only thing that I need is my notebook.
Ted, who is on the lacrosse team, is class president.
An elephant’s trunk is really a big nose, which has 40,000 muscles.
The author whose books I enjoy the most is Jane Austen.

9. Answers to Practice TimeNR