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Lesson Example Discussion Quiz: Class Homework

Example

Title: Parenthetical Expressions & Nonrestrictive Clauses

Grade: 8-a Lesson: S5-L1

Explanation: Let us discuss a few examples regarding the topic.

Examples:

Example: 1a

Mini basketball which is also known as "Super shot" is a game that is popular with kids and adults alike.

Correct sentence- Mini basketball, which is also known as "Super shot," is a game that is popular with kids and adults alike.

The phrase "which is also known as 'Super shot'" adds extra information about mini basketball but is unnecessary. The sentence "Mini basketball is popular with kids and adults alike" conveys the main message without this clause. This phrase is set off by commas to signal that the clause is nonrestrictive and can be removed.

Example: 2a

The nearby people questioned why the car (that was parked in front of the gate) remained there for 3 hours when other cars were usually parked in the parking lot.

Correct sentence- The nearby people questioned why the car that was parked in front of the gate remained there for 3 hours when other cars were usually parked in the parking lot.

The phrase "that was parked in front of the gate" is restrictive, as without it the sentence is unclear (To which car are people referring? Where is the car?) and the meaning is lost. In general, a comma does not precede the word "that," as the phrase that follows "that" generally restricts or limits the thing that it modifies. In such a case, the clause is restrictive and does not need to be punctuated with commas, parentheses, or dashes.

Example: 3a

The questions - that confuse students the most are those that are phrased in different codes that only trained professionals understand.

Correct sentence- The questions that confuse students the most are those that are phrased in different codes that only trained professionals understand.

If the phrase "which confuse students the most" were nonrestrictive, a comma preceding "which" would be appropriate. However, because the phrase is actually restrictive, limiting "questions" to a subgroup (those questions confusing to students), the word "that" is the best choice, though no dash is required since there is no closing dash elsewhere in the sentence that would complete the offsetting of the nonrestrictive clause.