Adj clauses commas

[sparklingdark]

The dentist whose office is downtown charges too much.

The girl whose brother took me to the dance is my sister's best friend.

commas not needed because neither "dentist" nor "girl" is non-specific?

Or DO they need commas?

thanks!

[5jj]

c[/STRIKE] Commas are not needed because neither "dentist" nor "girl" is non-specific?

You are not incorrect.

It is more usual to say that these nouns, dentist and girl are restricted, identified, or defined by the relative clause, rather than that they are not non-specific.

[sparklingdark]

OK thanks, we've dumbed it down to some of our students in that we say non-specific because that's an easier term for them to process. They're going through a very fast-paced ESL program...