Relative Clauses Questions Medium
Restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses are two types of clauses used to provide additional information about a noun in a sentence. The main difference between them lies in their impact on the meaning and structure of the sentence.
A restrictive relative clause, also known as a defining or essential relative clause, provides essential information about the noun it modifies. It restricts or narrows down the meaning of the noun, making it clear which specific person or thing is being referred to. Restrictive relative clauses are not separated by commas and cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning. For example:
- The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.
In this sentence, the restrictive relative clause "that I borrowed from the library" specifies which book is being referred to. Without this clause, the sentence would be incomplete and ambiguous.
On the other hand, a non-restrictive relative clause, also known as a non-defining or non-essential relative clause, provides additional, non-essential information about the noun it modifies. It adds extra details or descriptions but does not limit or define the noun. Non-restrictive relative clauses are separated by commas and can be removed from the sentence without altering its core meaning. For example:
- My sister, who is a doctor, lives in London.
In this sentence, the non-restrictive relative clause "who is a doctor" provides additional information about the noun "my sister." However, even if this clause is removed, the sentence would still convey the same meaning.
In summary, the key difference between restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses is that restrictive clauses are essential for the sentence's meaning and are not separated by commas, while non-restrictive clauses provide extra information and are set off by commas.