Some time ago I did a post on which vs. that (okay a few posts). One of the key elements was restrictive vs. non-restrictive clauses.
That's the difference between these two sentences:
I was making a cake for my brother who loves chocolate.
I was making a cake for my brother, who loves chocolate.
The first example implies that the speaker has more than one brother, only one of whom likes chocolate.
The second implies that there is only one brother, and that brother likes chocolate.
Restrictive means that there is more than one possible person to whom the sentence could be referring, and the clause that restricts it specifies which person it's going to.
Non-restrictive means that there is only one person to whom the sentence could be referring even without the clause, and the clause just adds a little more information about that person.
Which is correct?
1.
A. I was writing a book report for the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, when my cat attacked my pen.
B. I was writing a book report for the novel To Kill a Mockingbird when my cat attacked my pen.
2.
C. I read the poem, "Roses," before going to the store.
D. I read the poem "Roses" before going to the store.
3.
E. The book Lost in the Dark, written by Debra Fevers, was too long.
F. The book Lost in the Dark written by Debra Fevers was too long.
4.
G. It was a cold day in April, which is my favorite month, when I found the king.
H. It was a cold day in April which is my favorite month when I found the king.
5.
I. I read a poem, "To Walk in White," before going to the store.
J. I read a poem "To Walk in White" before going to the store.
Answers-
1. B: if you don't specify which book, you'll never know. This is not extra information.
2. D: If you don't specify which poem, you'll never know. Even though there are quotation marks, in this case you should not use commas.
3. E: There is only one book by that title. If you don't specify the author, you still know which book. Therefore, the author is extra information.
4. G: There's only one April. This is extra information.
5. I: Because you say a poem instead of the poem, what's important is that you read a poem, and it doesn't matter which poem. Since the name of the poem is extra information, you would use commas--it's a non-restrictive clause.
Hope that helps clear things up! Are there any specific cases you'd like to look at?
That's the difference between these two sentences:
I was making a cake for my brother who loves chocolate.
I was making a cake for my brother, who loves chocolate.
The first example implies that the speaker has more than one brother, only one of whom likes chocolate.
The second implies that there is only one brother, and that brother likes chocolate.
Restrictive means that there is more than one possible person to whom the sentence could be referring, and the clause that restricts it specifies which person it's going to.
Non-restrictive means that there is only one person to whom the sentence could be referring even without the clause, and the clause just adds a little more information about that person.
Which is correct?
1.
A. I was writing a book report for the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, when my cat attacked my pen.
B. I was writing a book report for the novel To Kill a Mockingbird when my cat attacked my pen.
2.
C. I read the poem, "Roses," before going to the store.
D. I read the poem "Roses" before going to the store.
3.
E. The book Lost in the Dark, written by Debra Fevers, was too long.
F. The book Lost in the Dark written by Debra Fevers was too long.
4.
G. It was a cold day in April, which is my favorite month, when I found the king.
H. It was a cold day in April which is my favorite month when I found the king.
5.
I. I read a poem, "To Walk in White," before going to the store.
J. I read a poem "To Walk in White" before going to the store.
Answers-
1. B: if you don't specify which book, you'll never know. This is not extra information.
2. D: If you don't specify which poem, you'll never know. Even though there are quotation marks, in this case you should not use commas.
3. E: There is only one book by that title. If you don't specify the author, you still know which book. Therefore, the author is extra information.
4. G: There's only one April. This is extra information.
5. I: Because you say a poem instead of the poem, what's important is that you read a poem, and it doesn't matter which poem. Since the name of the poem is extra information, you would use commas--it's a non-restrictive clause.
Hope that helps clear things up! Are there any specific cases you'd like to look at?
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