Question

In which sentence is the NONESSENTIAL clause underlined?

A) The man LEANING AGAINST THE WALL is from the zoo.
B) The snake THAT HE IS HOLDING is not poisionous
C) Its coloring, WHICH IS BROWN AND GREEN, allows it to hide in marshy areas.
D) That snake SLITHERING BEHIND THE ROCK is actually harmless.

In which sentence is the ESSENTIAL clause underlined

A) Eve's sister, WHO LOVES OPERA, took her to a performance.
B) Eve, HOLDING HER PROGRAM, waited for the curtain to go up.
C) The soprano, VISITING FROM CANADA, had long black hair.
D) The person WHO SELLS SOUVENIRS is in the lobby.

Answer 1

1. C

2. D

The answers these are

Answer 2

The nonessential clause is underlined in sentence c) Its coloring, which is brown and green, allows it to hide in marshy areas.

The underlined clause in this sentence is a non-defining relative clause, which only adds information about the noun phrase it modifies. Without the clause, the sentence is still gramatically correct and the meaning of the sentence does not change. Furthermore, non-defining relative clauses have to be written between commas.

The essential clause is underlines in sentence d) The person who sells souvenirs is in the lobby.

The underlined clause in this sentence is a defining relative clause, which gives essential information about the noun phrase it modifies. Without the clause, the meaning of the sentence changes (it is no longer a specific person the sentence is talking about). Furthermore, defining relative clauses are never writteng between commas.