Essential Clauses (Restrictive Clauses):
* Definition: These clauses are absolutely necessary to understand the meaning of the sentence. They provide crucial information that identifies the noun or pronoun they modify.
* Punctuation: They are *not* set off by commas.
* Example:
* "The student who aced the test received a prize." (The clause "who aced the test" is essential because it tells us which student received the prize. Without it, we wouldn't know.)
Nonessential Clauses (Nonrestrictive Clauses):
* Definition: These clauses add extra information, but they are not crucial to understanding the sentence's core meaning. They provide additional details or commentary.
* Punctuation: They are set off by commas.
* Example:
* "My friend, who lives in Paris, is a talented artist." (The clause "who lives in Paris" is nonessential because we already know which friend we're talking about. The clause simply adds a detail about their location.)
Here's a simple way to remember the difference:
* Essential: Think of them as essential to the sentence's meaning. If you remove them, the sentence becomes unclear or changes meaning.
* Nonessential: Think of them as extra information. If you remove them, the sentence still makes sense and its core meaning remains the same.
Key Points:
* Who vs. Whom: The use of "who" or "whom" in a clause can sometimes help you determine whether it's essential or nonessential. Generally, "who" is used in essential clauses and "whom" is used in nonessential clauses, but this isn't always a foolproof rule.
* Commas are key: The presence or absence of commas is the most reliable way to distinguish between essential and nonessential clauses.
Let me know if you would like more examples or have any further questions!