commas with essential and nonessential clauses

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CommaswithEssential
andNonessential
Clauses
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Lesson Vocabulary!
Term Definition
comma The mark ( , ) used to separate the items in a list or show where there is a
slight break in a sentence.
clause a group of words that includes a subject and a verb, and forms a
sentence or part of a sentence

Today’s Class
What is an essential clause?
What is a nonessential clause?
How do you use commas with an essential clause?
How do you use commas with a nonessential clause?
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Essential and Nonessential Clauses
What is essential and nonessential?
What is a clause?
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What is essential and nonessential?
Essential is something that is completely necessary but
nonessential is something that isn’t completely necessary.
1. Oxygen is essential to life.
2. Eating dessert is nonessential.
What is a clause?
A clause is a sentence or part of a sentence that has a subject and a
verb.
3. I have two sisters although I only like one of them.
4. My older brother is shorter than me.
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An essential clause adds necessary information about
something you have mentioned in a sentence. Essential clauses are
often introduced by that, who, whom, whose. Don’t use commas with
an essential clause.
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An essential clause adds necessary information about
something you have mentioned in a sentence. Essential clauses are
often introduced by that, who, whom, whose. Don’t use commas with
an essential clause.
The café that Chester recommended is a fantastic restaurant.
The clause “that Chester recommended” is essential information in the
sentence above. If you removed it, there would be no way to tell
which restaurant you were talking about.
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A nonessential clause offers extra information about something you
have mentioned in a sentence, but the information isn’t essential to
identify what you’re talking about. Nonessential clauses are usually
introduced by which or who. Use commas with nonessential clauses.
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A nonessential clause offers extra information about something you
have mentioned in a sentence, but the information isn’t essential to
identify what you’re talking about. Nonessential clauses are usually
introduced by which or who. Use commas with nonessential clauses.
Posey’s Café, which Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant.
The clause “which Chester recommended” is a nonessential because
“Posey’s Café” is already specific. Identifying it as the restaurant
recommended by Chester make the meaning any clearer.
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Why is this example incorrect?
My wife whom I love dearly is a brilliant doctor.
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Why is this example incorrect?
My wife whom I love dearly is a brilliant doctor.
The clause “whom I love dearly” is nonessential because you could
remove it and it would still be clear that you’re talking ‘my wife’. You
need to use commas with a nonessential clause.
My wife, whom I love dearly, is a brilliant doctor.
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Let’s Practice!
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Decide whether the clause is essential or nonessential.
Decide if the commas are correct.
Sentence Answer
1. The paper that I have just finished is due
tomorrow.
2. The woman whoever she was left
yesterday morning.

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Sentence Answer
tomorrow.
Essential and correct-don’t use commas.
yesterday morning.

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Sentence Answer
tomorrow.
yesterday morning.
Nonessential and incorrect -use commas.

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Sentence Answer
1. The gas company will discontinue our
service, unless we pay our bills by Friday.
2. Edgar Allan Poe, who wrote "The Raven,"
is a great American poet.
3. Puerto Rico, a country in South America,
is governed by the United States.
4. Kaylee who just graduated from high
school is an accomplished figure skater.

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Sentence Answer
1. The gas company will discontinue our
service, unless we pay our bills by Friday.
2. Edgar Allan Poe, who wrote "The Raven“,
is a great American poet.
Nonessential and correct -use commas.
3. Puerto Rico, a country in South America,
is governed by the United States.
Nonessential and correct-use commas.
4. Kaylee who just graduated from high
school is an accomplished figure skater.
Nonessential and incorrect-use commas.

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Sentence Answer
5. The astronaut, who first stepped on the
moon, was Neil Armstrong.
6. Children who eat vegetables are likely to
be healthy.
7. Oliver Twist which was Dickens’s second
novel is a classic.

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Sentence Answer
5. The astronaut, who first stepped on the
moon, was Neil Armstrong.
Essential and incorrect-don’t use commas.
6. Children who eat vegetables are likely to
be healthy.
7. Oliver Twist which was Dickens’s second
novel is a classic.
Nonessential and incorrect-use commas.

Summary
How do you use commas with an essential clause?
How do you use commas with a nonessential clause?
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Can you write a sentence with an essential and a nonessential
clause?
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Questions?
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Thankyou!
Nastashya Wall
204-946-5140 ex. 201
nwall@myenglishonline.ca
livelearn.ca

commas with essential and nonessential clauses

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