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Restrictive Modifier
What Is a Restrictive Modifier? (with Examples)
A restrictive modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that defines another element. A restrictive modifier is essential for meaning. If a restrictive modifier were to be removed, readers would be left with a question like "Which one are we talking about?".Table of Contents
- Examples of Restrictive Modifiers
- Adverbial Restrictive Modifiers and Other Types
- Why Restrictive Modifiers Are Important
- Printable Test

There is one notable exception to this. If a restrictive modifier is a phrase or clause that starts a sentence, it can be separated from the thing it modifies with a comma. (More on this below.)
Examples of Restrictive Modifiers
Here are some examples of restrictive modifiers (shaded):- The girl who stole the bread is back.
- The horse that led the way for the whole race fell at the last fence.
- The ornament the dog chewed was worth more than my car.
- My brother who lives in London is visiting on Saturday. (This is a restrictive modifier. It is essential information to identify which of my brothers.)
- My brother Mark, who lives in London, is visiting on Saturday. (This is a non-restrictive modifier. We already know which of my brothers we're talking about. The text in bold is just additional information. That's why it's offset with commas.)
Adverbial Restrictive Modifiers and Other Types
Restrictive modifiers are not always adjective clauses, like those in the examples above. There are many other types. For example:- My brother with a house in London is visiting on Saturday. (This is a prepositional phrase functioning as a restrictive modifier (specifically, a restrictive adjectival phrase).)
- The pirate in the middle was planning a mutiny. (This is another example of a prepositional phrase functioning as a restrictive modifier (specifically, a restrictive adjectival phrase).)
- Take the cake out of the oven when the alarm sounds. (This is an adverbial clause functioning as a restrictive modifier (specifically, a restrictive adverb of time).)
- I'm leaving because it's raining. (This is another example of an adverbial clause functioning as a restrictive modifier (specifically, a restrictive adverb of reason).)
More importantly, notice that there are no commas. These are all restrictive (or defining) modifiers.
Remember that anything that modifies something else in a way that is essential for meaning is a restrictive modifier. So, the following are all restrictive modifiers:
- My vase
- The vase
- A vase
- The blue vase
(Reason 1) Know when to leave the commas out.
The meaning of your sentence will be affected by your decision on whether to use commas with an adjective clause. Both examples below are grammatically sound, but they have different meanings.- My sister who is married won the lottery. (This is a restrictive modifier. It specifies that I'm talking about my married sister, i.e., not a different sister.)
- My sister, who is married, won the lottery. (This suggests I have just one sister. I've also told you that she is married, but I could have omitted that information. The bold text is a non-restrictive modifier.)
(Reason 2) Use a comma if your modifier is fronted.
When the modifier is at the start of your sentence (known as "fronted"), offset it with a comma. For example:- When the alarm sounds, take the cake out of the oven.
- At 2 o'clock, the third spirit appeared.
- Famished from the journey, John decided to hunker down with his horse.
- Take the cake out of the oven when the alarm sounds.
- The third spirit appeared at 2 o'clock.
- John decided to hunker down with his horse, famished from the journey.
- If you'd happily put your adjective clause in parentheses or delete it, use commas.
- If your adverbial is fronted, offset it with a comma. Don't use a comma if it's post-positioned.
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