Essential and Non-Essential Clauses and Phrases

What is an essential phrase or clause?

• A sentence about an important and relevant topic.

• A sentence about a trivial (unimportant) topic.

• A sentence that contains extra information that is not necessary to the basic meaning of the sentence.

• A sentence that contains information that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

What is a non-essential phrase or clause?

• A sentence about an important and relevant topic.

• A sentence about a trivial (unimportant) topic.

• A sentence that contains extra information that is not necessary to the basic meaning of the sentence.

• A sentence that contains information that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

Which type of phrase/clause needs commas?

• Essential

• Non-Essential

When a phrase has commas around it, that means that ____

CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.

• I can take the phrase out (extra)

• the phrase IS needed for basic understanding

• the phrase is NOT needed for basic understanding

• I need to leave the phrase in (necessary)

Identify each italicized / underlined clause or phrase in the following sentences as either essential or nonessential.

Note: Commas have been removed from the sentences.

The freshmen who made the Honor Roll were listed in the school newspaper.

• essential (no commas are needed)

• non-essential (need to add commas)

Identify each italicized / underlined clause or phrase in the following sentences as either essential or nonessential.

Note: Commas have been removed from the sentences.

Emilia Ortiz who lives across the street from me won a scholarship to Stanford University.

• essential (no commas are needed)

• non-essential (need to add commas)

Identify each italicized / underlined clause or phrase in the following sentences as either essential or nonessential.

Note: Commas have been removed from the sentences.

Library books that are lost or damaged must be replaced.

• essential (no commas are needed)

• non-essential (need to add commas)

Identify each italicized / underlined clause or phrase in the following sentences as either essential or nonessential.

Note: Commas have been removed from the sentences.

Students planning to try out for a role in the play should sign up no later than Friday afternoon.

• essential (no commas are needed)

• non-essential (need to add commas)

Identify each italicized / underlined clause or phrase in the following sentences as either essential or nonessential.

Note: Commas have been removed from the sentences.

Born in Detroit Robert Hayden was educated at the University of Michigan and later became a distinguished professor there.

• essential (a comma is not needed)

• non-essential (need to add a comma)

Identify each italicized / underlined clause or phrase in the following sentences as either essential or nonessential.

Note: Commas have been removed from the sentences.

We studied two sonnets written by William Shakespeare before reading the prologue to Romeo and Juliet.

• essential (a comma is not needed)

• non-essential (need to add a comma)