RESTRICTIVE AND NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSES | Tran Dinh Nhu - Free Printable

Let's solve this grammar exercise step by step. The task is about identifying restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses.

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🔹 What are Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses?

- Restrictive Clause:
- Essential to the meaning of the sentence.
- Does not have commas around it.
- If removed, the meaning changes or becomes unclear.
- Often uses who, that, which (but not always).

- Non-Restrictive Clause:
- Adds extra information but is not essential.
- Is set off by commas.
- Can be removed without changing the core meaning.
- Usually uses who, whom, whose, which — but never "that" in non-restrictive clauses.

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## ✔ PART A: Find the clause. Decide if restrictive or non-restrictive

1. The girl who has red hair wrote the story about coming.
- Clause: who has red hair
- This tells us *which* girl — there might be many girls, but only the one with red hair wrote the story.
- Restrictive (no commas)
→ ✔️ Restrictive

2. The book that you bought belongs to Carlos.
- Clause: that you bought
- Specifies *which* book — the one you bought (among possibly others).
- Restrictive (no commas)
→ ✔️ Restrictive

3. Ms. Lopez, who teaches English, is my favorite teacher.
- Clause: who teaches English
- Set off by commas → non-restrictive
- It adds extra info; we already know who Ms. Lopez is.
→ ✔️ Non-restrictive

4. During our lunch period, which occurs at noon, I take a much-needed break.
- Clause: which occurs at noon
- Commas around it → extra info
- We already know what “lunch period” means; this just gives more detail.
→ ✔️ Non-restrictive

5. The girl who just moved into my neighborhood was her school's star soccer player.
- Clause: who just moved into my neighborhood
- Identifies *which* girl — important for meaning.
- No commas → restrictive
→ ✔️ Restrictive

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## ✔ PART B: Underline the clause and decide if restrictive or non-restrictive

We’ll underline each relative clause and then label it.

1. The teacher who has dark hair said that her favorite color is yellow.
- Underline: who has dark hair
- This specifies *which* teacher (there may be several).
- No commas → Restrictive

2. The window that has been broken twice is now broken again.
- Underline: that has been broken twice
- Tells us which window (among possibly many).
- No commas → Restrictive

3. The hip-hop star, who is rather tall, has sold many albums.
- Underline: who is rather tall
- Commas → extra information
- Not essential to identify the star
→ ✔️ Non-restrictive

4. The party, which was planned for Saturday, will now be on Sunday.
- Underline: which was planned for Saturday
- Commas → extra info
- The party is already identified; this just adds detail
→ ✔️ Non-restrictive

5. Add the ingredients for the cake mix, which is on the counter.
- Underline: which is on the counter
- Commas → extra info
- The cake mix is already specified; this just tells where it is
→ ✔️ Non-restrictive

6. The student who has the highest grade won the prize.
- Underline: who has the highest grade
- Specifies *which* student (only one qualifies)
- No commas → Restrictive

7. The birdhouse that sits in the oak tree has been invaded by squirrels.
- Underline: that sits in the oak tree
- Specifies *which* birdhouse (among possibly others)
- No commas → Restrictive

8. Your homework, which seems impossible, can be completed with hard work.
- Underline: which seems impossible
- Commas → extra information
- Not essential to identify the homework
→ ✔️ Non-restrictive

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Part A:
1. who has red hair – Restrictive
2. that you bought – Restrictive
3. who teaches English – Non-restrictive
4. which occurs at noon – Non-restrictive
5. who just moved into my neighborhood – Restrictive

#### Part B:
1. who has dark hair – Restrictive
2. that has been broken twice – Restrictive
3. who is rather tall – Non-restrictive
4. which was planned for Saturday – Non-restrictive
5. which is on the counter – Non-restrictive
6. who has the highest grade – Restrictive
7. that sits in the oak tree – Restrictive
8. which seems impossible – Non-restrictive

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📝 Summary Tips:

- Commas = Non-restrictive
- No commas = Restrictive
- “That” is never used in non-restrictive clauses
- “Which” can be used in both, but only “which” is used in non-restrictive (with commas)

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