Commas with non-restrictive elements

key notes :

Non-Restrictive Elements:

• A non-restrictive element adds extra information to a sentence but is not essential for the meaning of the sentence.
• The sentence still makes sense even if the non-restrictive element is removed.

Commas with Non-Restrictive Elements:

• Non-restrictive elements are set off by commas to indicate that they are not essential.
• Place a comma before and after the non-restrictive element (if it appears in the middle of a sentence).

Examples of Non-Restrictive Elements:

• Correct: My friend, who loves to read, gave me a book.
• “Who loves to read” is extra information; the sentence would make sense without it.
• Incorrect: My friend who loves to read gave me a book. (Here, no commas are used, making it restrictive.)

Restrictive vs. Non-Restrictive:

Restrictive Element: Limits or defines the noun it describes. It is necessary to the sentence and does not require commas.

• Example: The student who studies hard will succeed.

Non-Restrictive Element: Adds non-essential information and is separated by commas.

• Example: The student, who studies hard, will succeed.

Position in the Sentence:

Non-restrictive elements can appear in different parts of a sentence:

• At the beginning: My brother, an engineer, lives in New York.
• In the middle: My brother, who lives in New York, is an engineer.
• At the end: My brother lives in New York, which is a big city.

Common Non-Restrictive Elements:

Appositives: A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun.

• Example: My sister, a talented musician, plays the violin.

Non-essential clauses or phrases: Usually begin with words like “who,” “which,” or “where.”

• Example: The car, which was red, sped past us.

let’s practice!