Commas Around Nonrestrictive Clauses

Begin with Restrictive or Nonrestrictive? and ask whether each part tells which one. Then practice commas, and finish with parentheses.

Add commas only around who and which clauses that give extra information, then write 2 sentences. A clause that gives extra information about a noun that is already clear gets a comma before and after it; a clause that tells which one gets no commas. The directions on the page read: In Part A, add commas around a clause that starts with who or which only if it gives extra information. If the clause tells which person or thing, add no commas. In Part B, write two sentences of your own and use commas correctly. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 6th Grade punctuation, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with nonrestrictive elements. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

A restrictive part tells which one and is needed, so it gets no commas, as in The students who finished the test early read quietly. A nonrestrictive part is extra, so it gets commas, as in Ms. Adeyemi, who teaches science, keeps a pet snake.

Leave out commas when the clause tells which person, as in The boy who found my wallet returned it. Without the clause, you would not know which boy.

Yes. Parentheses and commas can both set off extra information, as in Mr. Okafor (our music teacher) plays the cello.