ESSENTIAL AND NONESSENTIALCLAUSES AND

PHRASES

Nonessential Clauses Adds information that is not necessary

to the main idea in a sentence. Use a COMMA Examples,

Bob Smith, who stood at the top of his class, wants to go to medical school.

They words in bold are not necessary in the sentence. It could just read, Bob Smith wants to go to medical

school. So the detail that he is at the top of his class is not

necessary in the sentence, notice that the detail has a comma at the beginning and end of the clause

That makes that detail a nonessential clause.

Nonessential Phrases Like the nonessential clauses the nonessential phrases

also adds information that is not necessary to the main idea in a sentence.

Use a COMMA Examples,

Jill White, hoping to make the swim team, practiced every day.

The words in bold are the detail in the phrase that are unnecessary in the sentence.

This sentence could just read, Jill White practiced every day.

So the detail that she was hoping to make the swim team was not necessary in this sentence. Notice there is a comma at the beginning and end of the phrase.

That makes that detail a nonessential phrase.

Essential Clauses This is when a detail is necessary to the

meaning of a sentence. Do not use a comma Examples,

All the students whose names are on that list must report to Ms. Washington this afternoon.

The detail in bold must be in this clause for the sentence to make sense.

The sentence could not just read, all the students must report to Ms. Washington this afternoon.

If this is just written then all the students will go and the only students that are suppose to go are the ones on the list.

So the detail that only the students on the list are to report to Ms. Washington this afternoon must be in the sentence. Notice there is no comma at the beginning and end of the clause.

That makes the detail an essential clause.

Essential Phrases Like the essential clause an essential phrase is when a

detail is necessary to the meaning of a sentence.

Do not use a comma Examples,

A rare vase displayed in the museum was once owned by the king of Spain.

The words in bold are essential to the sentence. It could not just read a rare vase was once owned by the

king of Spain. Because then it could be any rare vase the was once

owned by the king of Spain. The detail that it displayed in the museum is essential to

the sentence so we know which vase was once owned by him. Notice there is no comma at the beginning and end of the detail.

So that makes the detail an essential phrase.

Including or Omitting Commas When Participial Clauses or Phrases are being used

Participial Clause or Phrase: : a word having the characteristics of both verb and adjective; especially : an English verbal form that has the function of an adjective and at the same time shows such verbal features as tense and voice and capacity to take an object.

Example: Surprised at my reaction, she tried to console me Depending on the writers' meaning, a participial phrases or clause

may either be essential or nonessential. Including or omitting commas tells the reader how the phrase or clause relates to the main idea of the sentence. Non- Essential,

Include Commas Sarah’s brother, who is a senior, works part time at the mall.

Nonessential, Include Commas

Sarah’s brother who is a senior works part time at the mall. Omitting Commas

Sarah has more than one brother. The one who is a senior works at the mall.

ReviewEssential Clauses and Phrases: When a clause or phrase in a sentence is

necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

NO COMMASNonessential Clauses and

Phrases: When a clause or phrase in a sentence is not necessary to the

meaning of the sentence.USE COMMAS

JEOPARDY

ESSENTIALCLAUSES AND

PHRASES

NONESSENTIALCLAUSES AND

PHRASES

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Texas, which has the most farms of any

state in this country, produces one fourth

of our oil.

Answer, Non-essentialHome

Is the part in white below, an essential or non-essential phrase or clause?

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the

nonessential clause or phrase.

My dog, who is a golden retriever, is

very obedient.

Answer: who is a golden retriever Home

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the

nonessential clause or phrase.

My lunch, which was a

hamburger and fries, was delicious. Answer: which was a

hamburger and fries Home

What does non-essential mean?

.

Answer: not necessary to the meaning of the sentence

Home

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the

essential clause or phrase.

What does essential mean?

Answer: Necessary to the meaning of the sentence? Home

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the

essential clause or phrase.

The elephant is the heaviest

animal that lives on the ground.

Answer: that lives on the ground

Home

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the

essential clause or phrase.

The present with the red bow is yours.

Answer: with the red bow Home

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the essential clause or

phrase.This Monday at

8:00pm you are to go to the doctor.

Answer: At 8:00pmHome

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the

essential clause or phrase.

All the dogs that pass the obedience test get an award.

Answer: that pass the obedience test Home

What word often indicates that the phrase or clause is

necessary?

Answer: thatHome

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the nonessential clause or

phrase.

The pets in the pet store, especially the

dogs, are cute.

Answer: especially the dogs Home

Identify the detail in the sentence that is the nonessential clause or

phrase.There are a lot of trees, especially

maple trees, in the forest.

Answer: especially maple trees Home