| non-restrictive clause |
| Definition:
A clause that gives additional, non-identifying information about the sentence's subject. Note: This is in contrast to a restrictive clause, which gives information necessary for precisely identifying the sentence's subject. |
| Example:
My car, which is in the tree, has suspension problems.
(We know that the car is my car, so the non-restrictive clause which is in the tree is additional, non-identifying information.) |
| Usage:
1. Always set off non-restrictive clauses with commas. Barb's husband, who is a real piece of work, is never home. |