2. Essential Clause
- a clause needed for the sentence to
make sense
*If you take it out, you will not be able
to determine the information that you
need to know or the sense of the
sentence.
3. Examples
1. The man who is wearing
a blue baseball cap left his
wallet.
(It is essential to know which man.)
4. 2. The time when I take a
shower changes during
time.
(There is a need to know what time.)
5. 3. I want a cat that is furry.
(There is a need to know what type of
cat.)
6. Nonessential Clause
- a clause that is not needed in the
understanding of the sentence
*In other words, nonessential clauses
are just additional information.
7. Examples
1. Ms. Roan, who is wearing a
blue shawl, is my Math teacher.
(The information about the blue shawl is
not essential for us to know about Ms.
Roan.)
8. 2. I won first prize, which is a
trophy.
(Even without the underlined clause, we
still know that the person won first prize.)
9. 3. My grandfather, who lives in a
farm, said he'd bring me a live
chicken.
(It is not essential for us to know that the
grandfather lives in a farm.)
10. For nonessential clause, use a pair
of commas-one at the start of the clause
and another at the end to set the clause
off from the rest of the sentence.
For essential clause, there is no
need to use commas.
11. Underline the clause in each sentence.
Then write EC on the blank i the clause is
essential and NC if the clause is
nonessential.
1. James, who won the contest, became the
grand champion.
2. The cats that roam the campus are
named Sam and Rob.
3. The woman who is waiting outside the
door got the autograph of the actor.
12. 4. Children who are deprived are unhappy.
5. Have you heard of Henrik Ibsen, who is a
famous playwright?
6. Our house, which was built 10 year ago,
is falling apart.
7. Some people don't enjoy games that they
don't win.
13. 8. Annie gave the girl who's wearing a blue
hat a new book.
9. The company executives, seeking higher
profits, employed fewer workers this year.
10. The woman who gave you the book is
my sister.
