Adjective Clauses - 9

Using Adjective Clauses 9

Restrictive / Nonrestrictive Clauses (#2)

Two important things to remember about restrictive and non-restrictive adjective clauses: Punctuation and the relative pronouns that they use. In today's lesson, we'll look at punctuation and relative pronouns used in non-restrictive clauses.

Non-Restrictive Clauses: Punctuation

Because non-restrictive adjective clauses give extra information, we "set them apart" from the main sentence by using commas:

Larry Gomez, who(m) Sandra met at Bob's party, called her last night.
Last night Sandra got a call from Larry Gomez, who(m) she met at Bob's party.

Your father, who called yesterday, called again this afternoon.
This afternoon you had a call from your father, who also called yesterday.


Hamburgers, which are actually made from beef, are popular in the U.S.A.
One popular food in the U.S.A. is hamburgers, which are actually made from beef.

Saguaros, which are tall cacti with "arms," are common in Arizona.
Among the common cacti in Arizona are saguaros, which are tall and have "arms."

Extra Notes:
Do not use commas in restrictive adjective clauses:
Incorrect: The person, who(m) Sandra met at Bob's party,
called her last night.
Incorrect: This afternoon you got a call from a man,
who also called you yesterday.
Incorrect: The cacti, which are tall and have "arms," are common in Arizona.

Non-Restrictive Clauses: Pronouns

Most relative pronouns can be used in both restrictive and non-restrictive adjective clauses, but one cannot: be used in both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses: who, whom, which, whose
used only in restrictive clauses: that



Examples:
Incorrect: Larry Gomez, that Sandra met at Bob's party, called her last night.
Correct: Larry Gomez, who(m) Sandra met at Bob's party, called her last night.
Incorrect: This afternoon you had a call from your father, that also called yesterday.
Correct: This afternoon you had a call from your father, who also called yesterday.
Incorrect: Hamburgers, that are actually made from beef, are popular in the U.S.A.
Correct: Hamburgers, which are actually made from beef, are popular in the U.S.A.
Incorrect: Among the common cacti in Arizona are saguaros, that are tall and have "arms."
Correct: Among the common cacti in Arizona are saguaros, which are tall and have "arms."