Question

Read the sentence. We’re performing a scene from my favorite book (the second in the trilogy).

Which best explains the writer’s use of punctuation in the sentence?
A: The writer correctly uses parentheses to de-emphasize a nonrestrictive element in the sentence.
B: The writer incorrectly uses parentheses to emphasize a restrictive element in the sentence.
C: The writer incorrectly uses parentheses to set off a restrictive element in the sentence.
D: The writer correctly uses parentheses to modify a nonrestrictive element in the sentence.

Answer 1

A.

Step-by-step explanation:

"The second in the trilogy" is a phrase modifying the noun "my favorite book," and it is nonrestrictive in function, i.e., it is not essential in defining or identifying the element modified by it and the sentence would still make sense if we removed it. Nonrestrictive elements are always set off from the main sentence with commas, dashes or parentheses. In this case, parentheses were chosen because they give less emphasis to the element than dashes or commas.

Answer 2

The statement that best explains the writer’s use of punctuation in the sentence is A: The writer correctly uses parentheses to de-emphasize a nonrestrictive element in the sentence. The use of parenthesis is to give support or exemplify the word before it.