The document discusses identifying and non-identifying adjective clauses. Identifying clauses provide necessary information to identify the noun, while non-identifying clauses provide extra information about a noun that has already been identified. Identifying clauses are not separated from the noun by commas, while non-identifying clauses are separated by commas. The document provides examples to illustrate the difference between identifying and non-identifying clauses.

1. Identifying and
Non-Identifying
Adjective Clauses
By Holly Cin
5CDE/Summer 2013

2. Adjective clauses, like adjectives, provide extra
information about a noun.
Sometimes, that extra information is
necessary for us to identify the noun.
If so, then that adjective clause is
appropriately called “identifying,” or
“essential.”
Without this information, we are not clear
about whom or what the writer/speaker is
writing/speaking.

3. Adjective clauses, like adjectives, provide extra
information about a noun.
Sometimes, that information is NOT
necessary for us to identify the noun.
If so, then that adjective clause is
appropriately called “NON-identifying,” or
“NON-essential.”
We do not need this information in order to
understand who or what the writer/speaker is
writing/speaking about. The information in a
NON-essential clause is EXTRA.

4. Essential/Identifying Adjective Clauses
This information identifies the noun and is therefore necessary.
Example: The teacher who teaches 5E is an excellent teacher.
“who teaches 5E” is essential information; otherwise you don’t
know which teacher we are referring to and the meaning isn’t
clear.
* Essential clauses are attached to the antecedent (noun)
WITHOUT COMMAS to separate them.

5. NON-Essential/NON-Identifying Adjective Clauses
This information does not identify the noun and is
therefore EXTRA. You can remove this adjective clause and
the sentence will still be clear.
Example: Holly Cin, who teaches 5E, is an excellent teacher.
“who teaches 5E” is extra information here since you already
know who Holly Cin is; she has been identified by name.
Therefore, any information you give me about Holly Cin is
now EXTRA.
*NON-Essential clauses are separated from their antecedents
(nouns) WITH COMMAS.

6. NON-Essential/NON-Identifying Adjective Clauses
TWO RULES to know:
1. When commas are used, the pronoun THAT may not be
used (only WHO, WHOM, WHICH, WHOSE, WHERE,
and WHEN may be used)
2. Object pronouns cannot be omitted.
Example: My mother, whom I owe my life to, is a remarkable
woman.
Incorrect: My mother, THAT I owe my life to, is a remarkable
woman.
Incorrect: My mother, I owe my life to, is a remarkable
woman

7. NON-Essential/NON-Identifying Adjective
Clauses
Proper names are ALWAYS followed by non-essential clauses.
Example 1:
Texas, which is the largest state in the continental U.S., is
famous for oil, cowboys, and the University of Houston.
Since we already know what Texas is, any information that
follows it is NON-essential, and therefore, separated by
commas.
We could remove the non-essential clause and still
understand the sentence 100%.

8. NON-Essential/NON-Identifying Adjective
Clauses
Proper names are ALWAYS followed by non-essential clauses.
Example 2:
Greg Urquhart, who has been teaching at the LCC since time
immemorial, has a great sense of humor.
Since we already know who Greg Urquhart is, any
information that follows is NON-essential, and therefore,
separated by commas.
We could remove the non-essential clause and still
understand the sentence 100%.

9. NON-Essential/NON-Restrictive/NON-
Identifying Adjective Clauses
Once the person or thing has been identified, all
information which follows in an adjective clause becomes
non-essential.
Ex. We had rice and beans for dinner last night. The rice,
which was prepared with onions and garlic, tasted
delicious.
In the above example, you know which rice we’re talking
about in the second sentence because it has been identified
in the first sentence.

10. Essential/Identifying Adjective Clauses:
Prepare for Confusion!
Compare the meaning of the following two sentences. In
one case, the information in the adjective clause is essential
to the meaning; in the other, it is extra.
1. We took some children on a picnic. The children, who
wanted to play soccer, ran to an open field as soon as we
arrived at the park.
2. We took some children on a picnic. The children who
wanted to play soccer ran to an open field as soon as we
arrived at the park. The others played baseball.

11. Essential/Identifying Adjective Clauses:
Prepare for Confusion!
Compare the meaning of the following two sentences. In
one case, the information in the adjective clause is essential
to the meaning; in the other, it is extra.
1. I met with some students after class yesterday. The
students, who were from 5F, had prepared lots of good
questions for me to answer.
2. I met with some students after class yesterday. The
students who were from 5F had lots of good questions. The
students who were from 5E had nothing at all to say.

12. Essential/Identifying Adjective Clauses:
Prepare for Confusion!
1. I met with some students after class yesterday. The students, who
were from 5F, had prepared lots of good questions for me to answer.
In this case, all of the students were from 5F so the adjective clause
“who were from 5F” was not essential to identify them.
2. I met with some students after class yesterday. The students who were
from 5F had lots of good questions. The students who were from 5E
had nothing at all to say.
In this case, some of the students were from 5F and some were from 5E
so the adjective clause “who were from 5F” was essential to identify
them.