Grammar Rules Questions Medium
A restrictive modifier is a word or phrase that provides essential information to the sentence and cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. It restricts or narrows down the meaning of the noun it modifies. Restrictive modifiers are not set off by commas.
On the other hand, a non-restrictive modifier is a word or phrase that provides additional, non-essential information to the sentence. It can be removed from the sentence without altering the meaning. Non-restrictive modifiers are set off by commas.
In summary, the main difference between a restrictive and a non-restrictive modifier lies in their necessity and the use of commas. Restrictive modifiers are essential to the sentence and do not require commas, while non-restrictive modifiers are optional and are set off by commas.