keannu
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- Dec 27, 2010
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Is the writer trying to say that basically the condition for 1 and 2 are the same, but depending on what you are trying to emphasize - related to judgment calls - you can express in one way or the other? Do 1 and 2 have at least one more sister except Linda?
Comma Usage: Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Relative Clauses
Judgment Calls
Sometimes whether to treat a relative clause as restrictive or nonrestrictive is simply a judgment call.
1. My sister, who is even deafer than I am, is named Linda. In this example, the information that Linda "is even deafer than I am" is extra. Since the main clause names the sister as Linda, the information in the relative clause is not necessary to identify which of the writer's sisters he is referring to.
But this relative clause could be treated as restrictive, giving the sentence a slightly different meaning:
2. My sister who is even deafer than I am is named Linda.This version of the sentence indicates that the purpose is to call the reader's attention to a specific sister--the one "who is even deafer than I am," as opposed to one or more other sisters who are not.
This is an important point: sometimes whether a clause is restrictive or nonrestrictive is determined by subtleties of meaning, and it is up to the writer to make sure that the sentence says exactly what he means.
Comma Usage: Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Relative Clauses
Judgment Calls
Sometimes whether to treat a relative clause as restrictive or nonrestrictive is simply a judgment call.
1. My sister, who is even deafer than I am, is named Linda. In this example, the information that Linda "is even deafer than I am" is extra. Since the main clause names the sister as Linda, the information in the relative clause is not necessary to identify which of the writer's sisters he is referring to.
But this relative clause could be treated as restrictive, giving the sentence a slightly different meaning:
2. My sister who is even deafer than I am is named Linda.This version of the sentence indicates that the purpose is to call the reader's attention to a specific sister--the one "who is even deafer than I am," as opposed to one or more other sisters who are not.
This is an important point: sometimes whether a clause is restrictive or nonrestrictive is determined by subtleties of meaning, and it is up to the writer to make sure that the sentence says exactly what he means.
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