Commas with non-restrictive elements
key notes :
🌟 Commas with Non-Restrictive Elements 📚✨
| What are Non-Restrictive Elements? |
Non-restrictive elements are parts of a sentence that add extra information but are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
- You can remove them and the main sentence still makes sense. ✅
- These are usually set off with commas.
Example:
My brother, 🧑💼 who lives in London, is visiting us next week.
- “who lives in London” ➡ extra information (non-restrictive).
- Sentence still makes sense without it: “My brother is visiting us next week.”
| How to Use Commas with Non-Restrictive Elements |
Place commas before and after the non-restrictive element.
Non-restrictive elements can be:
- Clauses (with who, which, whose, where)
- Phrases
- Single words
Examples:
- My cat, 🐱 a playful kitten, loves to chase butterflies.
- The book, 📖 which I borrowed from the library, is amazing.
- Sarah, 🎨 an excellent painter, won the school competition.
| Difference Between Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Elements |
| Feature | Restrictive | Non-Restrictive |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Essential | Extra information |
| Commas | ❌ No commas | ✅ Use commas |
| Example | Students who study hard get good marks. | Students, 🏫 who study hard, get good marks. |
Note: Without commas = restrictive (needed to identify the subject)
With commas = non-restrictive (extra detail)
| Tips & Tricks ✨ |
Ask yourself: “Can I remove this part and still understand the sentence?”
- Yes ➡ Non-restrictive ➡ Use commas ✅
- No ➡ Restrictive ➡ No commas ❌
Commas help the sentence “breathe” and make reading smoother. 🌬️
| Quick Practice Examples 📝 |
- My friend, _______ loves chocolate, is coming to my party.
- The old tree, _______ stands in the yard, is very tall.
- Our teacher, _______ teaches English, is very kind.
Answer Key:
- who
- which
- who
| 🌈 Fun Emoji Reminder: |
Think of commas as hugging your extra info 🤗:
Sentence, 🤗 extra info, 🤗 continues.
let’s practice!
