When Do You Use A Comma With A Relative Clause
Relative pronouns include that whose whom who and which. English unlike other West Germanic languages has a zero relative pronoun denoted below as Øthat is the relative pronoun is implied and not explicitly written or spoken.
Relative Clauses Definition And Examples Defining And Non Defining Relative Clauses Exercises Relative Clauses Relative Pronouns Sentence Examples
The relative clause is used to add information about the noun so it must be related to the noun.
When do you use a comma with a relative clause. An indirect question has been rewritten in a declarative style that doesnt require a. If the relative clause contains information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and is also preceded by a comma a dash or parenthesis its probably nonrestrictive so use which. If the clause is absolutely pertinent to the meaning of the sentence you use that If you could drop the clause and leave the meaning of the sentence intact use which To drop some technical terms which and that are relative pronouns that begin adjective clauses which are clauses that tell us a little more about the noun.
Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote You who have never known your family see them standing around you. Luckily theres an easy way to remember whether to use that or which. You need to put a comma both before and after a non-restrictive relative clause.
In the following sentence the relative pronoun that is the subject of its clause and won the Pulitzer Prize is the predicate. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential. I met Rebecca in town yesterday which was a nice surprise.
Point 3 Use a comma after an adverbial dependent clause that sits before the independent clause. You dont add a comma when which comes before a restrictive or defining clause. Dependent clauses can also start with relative pronouns or relative adverbs.
Jack built the house that I was born in. Lord Thompson who is 76 has just retired. Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence such as clauses beginning with that relative clauses.
A what clause is a type of noun clause or a free relative clause that begins with the word whatIn a declarative sentenceone of the most common applications for these clausesa what clause which functions as a noun may serve as the subject usually followed by a form of the verb be subject complement or object of a sentence. You use a comma when the word which introduces a nonrestrictive phrase which is also called a non-defining clause. When you use which to ask a simple question you dont need a comma.
If not odds are its restrictive so use that. Using a comma after a fronted adverbial dependent clause is such a common style its becoming increasingly safe to call it a rule. In Year 1 children are expected to write sentences with two clauses joined by the word and In Year 2 children start learning about subordination and coordination and need to start using a main clause and subordinate clause a complex sentence joined by when if that or because In Years 3 to 6 children are expected to continue to use a range of simple compound and complex.
This clause couldnt stand by itself. Dont use a comma before the clause if it follows the independent clause. You should not place a comma in front of a restrictive relative.
Subordinating conjunctions arent the only way to add a dependent clause to a sentence. When the information that follows the relative pronouns is essential to the sentence you do not use a comma. If youd happily put your clause in brackets or delete it then use commas because it must be non-essential.
But how do you use them. That clauses after nouns. Learn this and more with a helpful guide.
Here are some examples of relative clauses in purple. When you use one of the FANBOYS between independent clauses you signal that the clauses are equal sort of like how two independent roommates are equals. The answer is easy.
Punctuating subordinate clauses only gets tricky when they begin with relative pronouns such as that which who when where and whoseConveniently this type of subordinate clause can be referred to as a relative clauseThere are two types of relative clauses. Let him who has been deceived complain. A non-restrictive relative clause can modify a single noun a noun phrase or an entire proposition.
The most used coordinating conjunctions are often referred to as the FANBOYS for and nor but or yet so. The adverbial clauses in these two sentences are identical except one is offset with a comma and one isnt. Join two independent clauses with a comma and coordinating conjunction.
A relative pronoun is used to connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. My mother is an excellent cook. As you can see in these examples when the dependent clause comes first it needs to be followed by a comma.
We cant drop the relative pronoun in this kind of clause even if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. When do you use a comma before which. These words are called relative pronouns.
We dont use that in non-defining relative clauses so we need to use which if the pronoun refers to a thing and who if it refers to a person. Without this clause the sentence wouldnt make much sense. You also dont need a comma before which when its used as part of an indirect question.
Well show you how to use conjunctions clauses relative pronouns and the proper way to use a comma after and with our comma cheat sheet. This measure is used in restrictive relative clauses only as an alternative to voicing that which or who whom etc. My mother is thinking of opening a restaurant.
In other words the relative clause functions similar to an adjective. We also use relative clauses to give more information about a person thing or situation. A relative clause can also be an embedded clause if it is positioned in the middle of a sentence for example.
Read more about relative pronouns. 2 Understanding when to offset an adverbial clause with commas. My mother is already a clearly defined noun so the second sentence becomes a non-restrictive relative clause set off by commas on both sides.
A restrictive relative clause can be introduced by that which whose who or whom. A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun and functions as an adjective. With this kind of relative clause we use commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence.
A restrictive relative clause also known as a defining relative clause gives essential information about a noun that comes before it. Using commas to mark off parts of a sentence Commas are used to separate a part of a sentence that is an optional aside and not part of the main statement. Use commas before and after nonessential words phrases and clauses that is elements embedded in the sentence that interrupt it without changing the essential meaning.
If you leave out the element or put it somewhere else in the sentence does the essential meaning of the sentence change. A relative clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or noun phrase in the independent clause. We had fish and chips which I always enjoy.
That clauses after nouns are always essential. Deciding whether to use a comma before which where or who means determining the function of the relative clause. Comma Placement Level 2.
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