Commas with Nonessential and Essential Clauses and Phrases

What kinds of clauses and phrases could be essential or nonessential?

• who-which clauses

• invisible w-w's, including appositives

• participial phrases

• adjective clauses

• all the above

True or False: To determine if a clause or phrase is nonessential or essential, mentally remove the clause or phrase to see if it alters the information in the rest of the sentence.

• True

• False

Punctuate the sentence correctly.

• The woman who found my missing purse is now my close friend.

• The woman, who found my missing purse is now my close friend.

• The woman who found my missing purse, is now my close friend. comma after purse

• The woman, who found my missing purse, is now my close friend.

Herman, an excellent swimmer, was able to take this quiz with no problems.

• Interrupters

• Successive adjectives

• Nonessentials

• Introductory clause/phrase

What is the nonrestrictive element (or nonessential piece of information) in this sentence?

• which are expensive

• pearls

• aren't something I buy very often

• There is no nonrestrictive element in this sentence.

Which of the following indicate a restrictive clause?

• A sentence that includes information that is essential to the meaning of the sentence and does not use commas.

• A sentence that includes information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and is offset by commas.

Our cousins often come to stay with us. Their parents travel a lot for work.

Punctuate the sentence correctly: The book that you lent me is fascinating.

• A) The book, that you lent me, is fascinating.

• B) The book that you lent me, is fascinating.

• C) The book that you lent me is fascinating.

• D) The book, that you lent me is fascinating.

Identify the nonessential clause in the sentence: My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting us this weekend.

• A) My brother

• B) who lives in New York

• C) is visiting us this weekend

• D) this weekend

Which sentence contains an essential clause?

• A) The car, which is red, is parked outside.

• B) The car that is red is parked outside.

• C) The car, that is red, is parked outside.

• D) The car which is red is parked outside.