In writing, commas are used to make our meaning clear and to help sentences flow smoothly. One important use of commas is with non-restrictive elements, which provide extra information that isn’t essential to the meaning of the sentence. Understanding how to use commas with non-restrictive elements is a key skill that will improve your writing.

What Are Non-Restrictive Elements?

A non-restrictive element is a part of the sentence that adds extra information. This information is not necessary for the sentence to make sense. If you remove the non-restrictive element, the sentence would still be complete and its basic meaning would stay the same.

For example:

  • Original sentence with non-restrictive element: My brother, who lives in London, is coming to visit.
  • Without non-restrictive element: My brother is coming to visit.

In this case, “who lives in London” is extra information—it tells you more about the brother, but it isn’t needed to know that the brother is coming to visit. We use commas to separate this non-essential part from the rest of the sentence.

Key Rule: Use Commas to Set Off Non-Restrictive Elements

Non-restrictive elements must be surrounded by commas to show that they are extra information. You can think of the commas like brackets that mark off the non-essential part of the sentence.

  • Example: The park, which is next to my school, is a great place to play.
  • The phrase “which is next to my school” is extra information. The sentence makes sense without it: The park is a great place to play.

Restrictive vs Non-Restrictive Elements

It’s important to know the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive elements.

  • Restrictive elements are necessary for the meaning of the sentence. Without them, the sentence wouldn’t make complete sense. No commas are used with restrictive elements. Example: The boy who won the race is my friend.
  • In this case, the phrase “who won the race” is important because it tells us which boy we are talking about. If you remove this phrase, the sentence becomes unclear.
  • Non-restrictive elements, as we’ve seen, give extra information but aren’t essential. Commas are used with non-restrictive elements. Example: Tom, who loves football, is my friend.
  • “Who loves football” is extra information about Tom. If you remove it, the sentence still makes sense: Tom is my friend.

Tips and Tricks

  1. Test by Removing the Element: If you can remove the part of the sentence and it still makes sense, it’s probably a non-restrictive element and needs commas.
  2. Use “Which” and “Who” for Non-Restrictive Clauses: Non-restrictive elements are often introduced by “which” or “who.” If you’re describing something that isn’t essential, use these words along with commas.
  3. No Commas for Restrictive Elements: If the element is necessary to identify something or someone, don’t use commas. Words like “that” are often used in restrictive elements.

Easy Difficulty Questions

  1. What is a non-restrictive element?
  • Answer: A part of a sentence that gives extra information and is not necessary for the sentence to make sense.
  1. Should you use commas with non-restrictive elements?
  • Answer: Yes.
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) My friend who is from Spain is visiting me.
  • b) My friend, who is from Spain, is visiting me.
  • Answer: b
  1. What happens if you remove a non-restrictive element from a sentence?
  • Answer: The sentence still makes sense.
  1. Does a restrictive element need commas?
  • Answer: No.
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) My cat, which is very old, sleeps all day.
  • b) My cat which is very old sleeps all day.
  • Answer: a
  1. Is this sentence correct: My sister, who loves painting is very talented.
  • Answer: No, it needs a comma after “painting.”
  1. What does the word “non-restrictive” mean?
  • Answer: It means the element is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) The car that I bought last year is blue.
  • b) The car, that I bought last year, is blue.
  • Answer: a
  1. Which part of this sentence is a non-restrictive element? My teacher, who loves reading, recommended this book.
    • Answer: “who loves reading”
  2. Should this sentence have commas: The dog which has a brown collar is mine.
    • Answer: No, because “which has a brown collar” is restrictive.
  3. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The pizza, which was delicious, was eaten quickly.
    • b) The pizza which was delicious was eaten quickly.
    • Answer: a
  4. What is a restrictive element?
    • Answer: A part of a sentence that is necessary for the meaning of the sentence.
  5. Does a restrictive element use commas?
    • Answer: No.
  6. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The boy, who won the prize, was very happy.
    • b) The boy who won the prize was very happy.
    • Answer: b
  7. Is this sentence correct: The cake, that I baked, is chocolate-flavoured.
    • Answer: No, “that” should be “which,” and there should be no comma before “that.”
  8. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The flowers that I picked are in a vase.
    • b) The flowers, that I picked, are in a vase.
    • Answer: a
  9. Should this sentence have commas: The book which I read yesterday was interesting.
    • Answer: No, because “which I read yesterday” is restrictive.
  10. Which sentence uses commas correctly?
    • a) My brother, who lives in Manchester is visiting tomorrow.
    • b) My brother, who lives in Manchester, is visiting tomorrow.
    • Answer: b
  11. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The bike which is red is mine.
    • b) The bike, which is red, is mine.
    • Answer: b

Medium Difficulty Questions

  1. Which part of this sentence is non-restrictive? My aunt, who is a doctor, is coming to dinner.
  • Answer: “who is a doctor”
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) The park, which is near my house, is beautiful.
  • b) The park which is near my house is beautiful.
  • Answer: a
  1. Should this sentence have commas: The phone that I bought is very expensive.
  • Answer: No, because “that I bought” is restrictive.
  1. What is the non-restrictive element in this sentence: The painting, which is very old, is worth a lot of money.
  • Answer: “which is very old”
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) The film, that I watched last night, was amazing.
  • b) The film that I watched last night was amazing.
  • Answer: b
  1. Should this sentence have commas: My car which is parked outside is red.
  • Answer: Yes, it should be: My car, which is parked outside, is red.
  1. What is a restrictive element?
  • Answer: A part of a sentence that is necessary for its meaning and does not use commas.
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) The garden, which is full of flowers, is my favourite place.
  • b) The garden which is full of flowers is my favourite place.
  • Answer: a
  1. Should this sentence have commas: The man who is wearing a hat is my uncle.
  • Answer: No, because “who is wearing a hat” is restrictive.
  1. Which part of this sentence is non-restrictive: My dog, who loves playing, is very energetic.
    • Answer: “who loves playing”
  2. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The road which leads to my house is closed.
    • b) The road, which leads to my house, is closed.
    • Answer: b
  3. What is the non-restrictive element in this sentence: My phone, which is new, has a great camera.
    • Answer: “which is new”
  4. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The film that I watched last week was boring.
    • b) The film, that I watched last week, was boring.
    • Answer: a
  5. Is this sentence correct: My laptop which is very fast is great for gaming.
    • Answer: No, it should be: My laptop, which is very fast, is great for gaming.
  6. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) *

The cat which is very fluffy belongs to my neighbour.*
– b) The cat, which is very fluffy, belongs to my neighbour.
– Answer: b

  1. Should this sentence have commas: The cake that I baked is chocolate-flavoured.
    • Answer: No, because “that I baked” is restrictive.
  2. What is the non-restrictive element in this sentence: The house, which is very big, has a beautiful garden.
    • Answer: “which is very big”
  3. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The car which is parked outside is mine.
    • b) The car, which is parked outside, is mine.
    • Answer: b
  4. Should this sentence have commas: The teacher who is marking my test is very strict.
    • Answer: No, because “who is marking my test” is restrictive.
  5. What is the non-restrictive element in this sentence: My shoes, which are very comfortable, are new.
    • Answer: “which are very comfortable”

High Difficulty Questions

  1. Identify the non-restrictive element in this sentence: My cousin, who is studying law, is visiting this weekend.
  • Answer: “who is studying law”
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) The book, which I bought last week, is very interesting.
  • b) The book that I bought last week is very interesting.
  • Answer: b
  1. Should this sentence have commas: The movie which I watched yesterday was amazing.
  • Answer: No, because “which I watched yesterday” is restrictive.
  1. What is the non-restrictive element in this sentence: The castle, which was built in the 12th century, is a popular tourist attraction.
  • Answer: “which was built in the 12th century”
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) The laptop, which I bought last year, is very fast.
  • b) The laptop which I bought last year is very fast.
  • Answer: a
  1. Should this sentence have commas: The dog which is barking loudly is mine.
  • Answer: Yes, it should be: The dog, which is barking loudly, is mine.
  1. What is a restrictive element?
  • Answer: A part of the sentence that is essential to the meaning and doesn’t use commas.
  1. Identify the non-restrictive element in this sentence: The museum, which I visited last year, is very famous.
  • Answer: “which I visited last year”
  1. Choose the correct sentence:
  • a) The tree that is in my garden is very tall.
  • b) The tree, that is in my garden, is very tall.
  • Answer: a
  1. Should this sentence have commas: The students who are in Year 7 will go on the trip.
    • Answer: No, because “who are in Year 7” is restrictive.
  2. Identify the non-restrictive element in this sentence: The river, which flows through the city, is very wide.
    • Answer: “which flows through the city”
  3. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The bridge which connects the two cities is very old.
    • b) The bridge, which connects the two cities, is very old.
    • Answer: b
  4. Should this sentence have commas: The boy who is wearing a blue jacket is my friend.
    • Answer: No, because “who is wearing a blue jacket” is restrictive.
  5. What is the non-restrictive element in this sentence: My car, which is parked outside, is red.
    • Answer: “which is parked outside”
  6. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The computer which I use for work is very fast.
    • b) The computer, which I use for work, is very fast.
    • Answer: b
  7. Should this sentence have commas: The girl who won the race is very happy.
    • Answer: No, because “who won the race” is restrictive.
  8. Identify the non-restrictive element in this sentence: The mountain, which is covered in snow, is beautiful.
    • Answer: “which is covered in snow”
  9. Choose the correct sentence:
    • a) The man who lives next door is a doctor.
    • b) The man, who lives next door, is a doctor.
    • Answer: a
  10. Should this sentence have commas: The house that I grew up in is being renovated.
    • Answer: No, because “that I grew up in” is restrictive.
  11. Identify the non-restrictive element in this sentence: My bike, which I ride to school, is new.
    • Answer: “which I ride to school”

By understanding how to use commas with non-restrictive elements, you can improve the clarity of your writing and make your sentences easier to read. Keep practising, and you’ll master this important punctuation rule!