Non-restrictive clause

Non-restrictive clause

A non-restrictive clause is a clause in which the noun phrase (NP) that is used to avoid repetition (as the referent of an anaphor, meaning that it is substituted by another word, but refers to the same noun) is determined by its antecedent where the dependent is peripheral (non-essential) in the secondary constituent as opposed to a restrictive clause where the dependent is central (essential) to its primary constituent. A nonrestrictive clause, therefore, does not aid in the identification of the referent of its head noun, but only provides information about it.

Restrictive example:

The officer helped the civilians who had been shot.

In this example, there is no comma before "who." Therefore, what follows is a restrictive clause. (not all of the civilians had been shot).

Non-restrictive example:

The officer helped the civilians, who had been shot.

Here is a comma before "who." Therefore, what follows is a non-restrictive clause. It also changes the sentence to mean that all the civilians had been shot.[1]

See also

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • non-restrictive — non re strictive adj technical a non restrictive ↑relative clause gives additional information about a particular person or thing rather than saying which person or thing is being mentioned. For example, in the sentence Perry, who is 22, was… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • restrictive clause — re.strictive clause also re.strictive .relative clause n technical a part of a sentence that says which particular person or thing you are talking about. For example in the man who came to dinner , the phrase who came to dinner is a restrictive… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • non-restrictive — adjective technical a non restrictive relative clause gives additional information about a particular person or thing rather than saying which person or thing is being mentioned, for example in the sentence Perry, who is 22, was arrested… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Non-compete clause — Contract law Part …   Wikipedia

  • non-restrictive — adj. Non restrictive is used with these nouns: ↑clause …   Collocations dictionary

  • non-restrictive — non restricˈtive adjective (grammar) Used of a relative clause that does not restrict the people or things to which its antecedent may refer • • • Main Entry: ↑non …   Useful english dictionary

  • non-restrictive — adjective 1》 not involving restrictions or limitations. 2》 Grammar (of a clause or phrase) giving additional information about a noun phrase whose particular reference has already been specified …   English new terms dictionary

  • clause — [ kloz ] n. f. • XIIIe; « vers, rime » 1190; bas lat. clausa, de claudere « clore », lat. class. clausula ♦ Disposition particulière d un acte. ⇒ condition, convention, disposition. Les clauses d un contrat, d une loi, d un traité. Respecter,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • clause — noun 1 in a legal document ADJECTIVE ▪ confidentiality, indemnity, penalty ▪ The penalty clause specifies that late delivery will be fined. ▪ escape, exclusion, exemption …   Collocations dictionary

  • Non-finite verb — In linguistics, a non finite verb (or a verbal) is a verb form that is not limited by a subject and, more generally, is not fully inflected by categories that are marked inflectionally in language, such as tense, aspect, mood, number, gender, and …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”