Essential Clauses

Multiple Choice

The word "That" HATES commas

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences correctly uses an essential clause with 'that'?

• Parrots are one of the most difficult pets, that a person can have because they are intelligent, demanding, and live for up to 50 years.

• Parrots are one of the most difficult pets that, a person can have because they are intelligent, demanding, and live for up to 50 years.

• Parrots are one of the most difficult pets that a person can have because they are intelligent, demanding, and live for up to 50 years.

• Parrots are one of the most difficult pets, that, a person can have because they are intelligent, demanding, and live for up to 50 years.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses the word “that” correctly according to the rule for essential clauses?

• A) The movie, that we watched last night, was really good.
  

• B) The movie that we watched last night was really good.
  

• C) The movie—that we watched last night—was really good.
  

• D) The movie, that we watched last night—was really good.

Multiple Select

Which of the following sentences are grammatically correct according to the rules of essential and non-essential clauses?

• People, who attend large open air events such as sporting matches and music festivals, often turn to camping as a cheap form of accommodation.

• People who attend large open air events such as sporting matches and music festivals often turn to camping as a cheap form of accommodation.

• Parrots are one of the most difficult pets that a person can have because they are intelligent, demanding, and live for up to 50 years.

• Parrots are one of the most difficult pets, a person can have because they are intelligent, demanding, and live for up to 50 years.

Multiple Choice

In the sentence 'customers, who make purchases on February 29th, have four years to return their items,' what is the correct way to punctuate the clause about customers?

• customers, who make purchases on February 29th,

• customers who make purchases on February 29th,

• customers who make purchases on February 29th

• customers, who make purchases on February 29th

Multiple Choice

The clause 'marked "Alaska Commercial Company"' is considered ___ in the context of the sentence, so two commas should be used.

• non-essential
• essential

Open Ended

How does the context of a sentence or passage affect whether a clause should be set off by commas? Use the examples about the envelope to support your answer.

Multiple Choice

According to the passage, what is the simplest way to determine whether commas are necessary around a name or title in a sentence?

• Treat the name or title as essential and always use commas.

• Treat the name or title like any other non-essential word or clause and see if the sentence makes sense without it.

• Always place a comma before and after the name or title.

• Never use commas around names or titles.

Multiple Choice

Which option best corrects the underlined portion in the sentence: 'Ada Lovelace and her acquaintance, Charles Babbage, were two of the most influential figures in the history of computer science.'?

• NO CHANGE

• acquaintance Charles Babbage

• acquaintance Charles Babbage,

• acquaintances, Charles Babbage

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses commas correctly to indicate non-essential information?

• A) The speech given by the American President Donald Trump was specious.

• B) The speech, given by the American President Donald Trump was specious.

• C) The speech given by the American President, Donald Trump was specious.
  

• D) The speech given by the American President, Donald Trump, was specious.

Multiple Choice

Caribbean-American author, Jamaica Kincaid is also known for being an enthusiastic essayist and gardener.

• 1. A. NO CHANGE

• B. author Jamaica Kincaid

• C. author, Jamaica Kincaid,

• D. author Jamaica Kincaid,

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct way to punctuate the sentence: 'In 1985, she published the novel ,Annie John, a semiautobiographical story of a young girl growing up in Antigua.'?

• NO CHANGE

• the novel Annie John,

• the novel, Annie John

• the novel Annie John

Multiple Choice

What is the rule regarding the use of commas with essential clauses beginning with 'that'?

• They should always be set off by commas.

• They should never be set off by commas.

• Commas are optional before 'that'.

• Commas are only used after 'that'.