Essential and Nonessential Adjective Clauses Worksheet - Free Printable

Problem Explanation:

The task involves identifying whether the underlined group of words in each sentence is an adjective clause and determining if it is essential or nonessential.

- Adjective Clause: A dependent clause that functions as an adjective, providing additional information about a noun or pronoun.
- Essential Clause: Provides necessary information to identify the noun or pronoun it modifies. It is not set off by commas.
- Nonessential Clause: Provides extra, non-essential information and is set off by commas.

Solution:

Let's analyze each sentence step by step:

---

#### 1. The leaves are falling off of the trees, which are all oaks.
- Underlined Clause: "which are all oaks"
- Analysis: This clause provides extra information about the trees but is not necessary to identify them. It is set off by commas.
- Type: Nonessential
- Answer: NE

---

#### 2. The car that pulled out in front of us was green.
- Underlined Clause: "that pulled out in front of us"
- Analysis: This clause identifies which specific car is being referred to. Without it, we wouldn't know which car is green.
- Type: Essential
- Answer: E

---

#### 3. I want to ride the horse that has the black mane.
- Underlined Clause: "that has the black mane"
- Analysis: This clause specifies which horse is being referred to. Without it, we wouldn't know which horse the speaker wants to ride.
- Type: Essential
- Answer: E

---

#### 4. I am looking for someone who can help me paint this wall.
- Underlined Clause: "who can help me paint this wall"
- Analysis: This clause identifies the specific person the speaker is looking for. Without it, we wouldn't know what qualities the person must have.
- Type: Essential
- Answer: E

---

#### 5. The essay, which is due tomorrow, is about Abraham Lincoln.
- Underlined Clause: "which is due tomorrow"
- Analysis: This clause provides extra information about the essay but is not necessary to identify it. It is set off by commas.
- Type: Nonessential
- Answer: NE

---

#### 6. The telephone that belongs to Aunt Jane.
- Underlined Clause: "that belongs to Aunt Jane"
- Analysis: This clause identifies which specific telephone is being referred to. Without it, we wouldn't know whose telephone it is.
- Type: Essential
- Answer: E

---

#### 7. My sister's best friend is Jennifer, who is coming over to our house tonight.
- Underlined Clause: "who is coming over to our house tonight"
- Analysis: This clause provides extra information about Jennifer but is not necessary to identify her. It is set off by commas.
- Type: Nonessential
- Answer: NE

---

#### 8. Mr. Hart called on the boy whose hand was raised.
- Underlined Clause: "whose hand was raised"
- Analysis: This clause identifies which specific boy is being referred to. Without it, we wouldn't know which boy Mr. Hart called on.
- Type: Essential
- Answer: E

---

#### 9. Mrs. King is going to have a baby, who will be born in May.
- Underlined Clause: "who will be born in May"
- Analysis: This clause provides extra information about the baby but is not necessary to identify the baby. It is set off by commas.
- Type: Nonessential
- Answer: NE

---

#### 10. The pillows, which my mom found online, have dolphins on them.
- Underlined Clause: "which my mom found online"
- Analysis: This clause provides extra information about the pillows but is not necessary to identify them. It is set off by commas.
- Type: Nonessential
- Answer: NE

---

Final Answers:

1. NE
2. E
3. E
4. E
5. NE
6. E
7. NE
8. E
9. NE
10. NE

Boxed Final Answer:

\[
\boxed{\text{NE, E, E, E, NE, E, NE, E, NE, NE}}
\]