Restrictive Clause
A restrictive clause is one that is necessary to identify
the word it modifies. A restrictive clause is not offset with
commas.
Examples:
 I went to
Reading with the man who lives next door. (identifies
the man)
  
restrictive clause (no commas)
I went to
Reading with John Baker, who lives next door. (just
additional
info)
non-restrictive clause (comma required)
With a restrictive clause, the relative pronoun
(usually who
or which) can be replaced with "that" or even omitted
completely.
Examples:
The
window which you cracked is over 300 years old. (identifies
the window)
restrictive clause (no commas)
The
window that you cracked is over 300 years old.
(There is never a comma before
"that" when it is used in this way.)
The window
you cracked is over 300 years old.
| Sonia,
the request you wrote yesterday
was rejected. [show me the
restrictive clause] |
See also:
Glossary of grammatical terms
|
