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The term restrictive clause usually refers to a relative clause that follows a noun and limits the scope of the noun.

Example: The package that came last Tuesday is on your desk.

In the set of all possible packages, the restrictive clause picks out the one that the sentence is referring to-- the one that came last Tuesday. The restrictive clause answers the question "Which package are you talking about?"

Relative clauses that don't limit the scope of the noun are called non-restrictive. This kind of relative clause is set off by parenthetical commas.

Example: My mother, who loves to watch tennis, lives in University City.

There's only one eligible person in the set my mother. The information that she loves to watch tennis does not tell you which one of my mothers I'm talking about--it just adds to what you know about my mother.

Notice that in both my examples, there's a presumption that you and I are in a conversation and that I'm trying to make sure you and I are "on the same page." This is what makes defining this concept difficult--it's really about references established through discourse and it's hard to talk about out of context.

By the way, the example provided here earlier by a different contributor--

Her sister, who is a lawyer in New york City, is coming for the weekend.

--is marked by the commas as a non-restrictive clause. If the speaker has more than one sister and the clause is pinpointing which sister is being talked about, the same clause without the commas would be restrictive.

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Q: What is a restrictive clause?
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Related questions

What is the other name of your relative clause?

Restrictive Clause is the other name of relative clause..


Is who can cook an adjective or an adverb clause?

The clause "who can cook " is basically an adjective clause because it refers to a noun.For example:The pilot who can cook prepared the food for the survivors." who can cook " refers to pilot.*The question is also whether it is a restrictive or non-restrictive clause. If the pilot is the only one of the pilots who can cook, it is a restrictive clause (the one who can). If the pilot just happens to be able to cook, it is a non-restrictive clause set off by commas, e.g.The pilot, who can cook, prepared the food for the survivors.


What is the difference in usage of 'which' or 'that' for a relative clause?

In restrictive clauses, use 'that' to define a specific characteristic or condition of the noun being referred to. Use 'which' in non-restrictive clauses to provide additional information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.


What is the adjective clause pronoun that CAN NOT be used in non restricted adjective clauses?

"That". In a non-restrictive adjective clause, such as in the sentence: "He went to the Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris." The non-restrictive adjective clause, "which is located in Paris", called non-restrictive because it does not serve to improve the identification of the Eiffel Tower or "restrict" the meaning of it, contains the adjective clause pronoun "which". The reader would know what the Eiffel Tower was referring to even without the adjective clause because there is only one Eiffel Tower. This is what makes the adjective clause non-restrictive - not improving the identification of the noun. One could not use "that" in place of "which" because "that" is only used to alter or restrict the meaning of the noun. Here is an example of a restrictive adjective clause using "that": "I went to the store that is on the corner of Sunset and Vine." In this sentence the adjective clause, "that is on the corner of Sunset and Vine", restricts which store we are referring to, to the one "that is on the corner of Sunset and Vine" and not the one on Main and Third Streets. Thus it is called a restrictive clause. In restrictive clauses, one can use "that" and any of the other adjective clause pronouns: who, whom, which, where, when.


Is if a conjunction or not?

"If" is not a conjunction; it is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a conditional clause.


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limits the meaning of the word it describes I THINK...


What is true of a non-restrictive clause?

i think it like written or words


What kind of clause is that deal with current events in an exciting way?

That is a relative clause, specifically a restrictive relative clause, providing essential information about the type of clause being discussed.


When to use comma before where and when not?

Use a comma before "where" when it introduces a non-restrictive clause (provides additional, non-essential information) and omit the comma when "where" introduces a restrictive clause (essential for the sentence's meaning). For example, "I went to the park, where I often walk my dog" (non-restrictive) vs. "I will meet you at the park where we first met" (restrictive).


Which of the following is true regarding a restrictive adjectival clause?

It will follow a proper noun


What type of clause is shown in parentheses you missed the plate that you were supposed to take?

This type of clause is a relative clause, specifically a restrictive relative clause. It provides essential information about the plate that was supposed to be taken.


Where does the comma go with the word which?

The comma typically goes before "which" when it introduces a non-restrictive clause in a sentence. For example: "The cat, which was black, jumped onto the couch." If the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, then no comma is needed.