Final answer:
Restrictive phrases and clauses are essential for understanding the meaning of a sentence, while non-restrictive phrases and clauses provide extra information but are not vital.
Step-by-step explanation:
Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Phrases and Clauses
A restrictive phrase or clause provides essential information to identify the noun it modifies. It cannot be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning. For example, in the sentence 'The book that is on the shelf is mine,' the phrase 'that is on the shelf' restricts the noun 'book' and is necessary to understand which book is being referred to.
A non-restrictive phrase or clause, on the other hand, provides additional information but is not necessary for identifying the noun it modifies. It is set apart by commas. For example, in the sentence 'My book, which is blue, is on the shelf,' the phrase 'which is blue' provides extra information about the book but can be removed without altering the meaning of the sentence.
In summary, restrictive phrases and clauses restrict the meaning of a noun and cannot be omitted without changing the sentence's meaning, while non-restrictive phrases and clauses provide extra information but can be removed without altering the sentence's meaning.
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