English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
What does the punctuation suggest?
What does the punctuation suggest?
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define restrictive and nonrestrictive elements and distinguish between them.
Identify the specific punctuation (or lack thereof) used to signal restrictive and nonrestrictive elements.
Analyze how an author's choice to use a restrictive or nonrestrictive element impacts a sentence's meaning, tone, and focus.
Correctly punctuate sentences containing restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses and phrases in their own writing.
Evaluate the rhetorical effect of these elements in literary and non-fiction texts.
Revise ambiguous sentences to clarify meaning by correctly applying punctuation rules for these elements.
Consider these two sentences: 'My sister who lives in Paris is a chef' vs. 'My sister, who lives in Paris, is a chef.' Wh...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
ElementIn grammar, an 'element' is a word, phrase, or clause that functions as part of a sentence.In the sentence 'The dog, a golden retriever, barked loudly,' the phrase 'a golden retriever' is an element.
Restrictive ElementAn essential phrase or clause that is necessary to identify the noun it modifies. It 'restricts' the meaning to a specific person, place, or thing. If you remove it, the sentence's core meaning becomes unclear or changes.The student who aced the final exam will receive an award. (The clause 'who aced the final exam' is essential; it tells us *which* student.)
Nonrestrictive ElementAn additional, non-essential phrase or clause that provides more information about the noun it modifies but is n...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Comma Rule for Nonrestrictive Elements
Use commas to set off nonrestrictive elements from the rest of the sentence.
Commas act like handles on a piece of extra information, signaling to the reader, 'You can lift this part out, and the sentence will still make sense.' This applies to nonrestrictive clauses, phrases, and appositives. Think of the commas as parentheses.
The 'No Comma' Rule for Restrictive Elements
Do not use commas to set off restrictive elements.
Because a restrictive element is essential to the sentence's meaning, it cannot be separated by commas. Integrating it smoothly into the sentence without punctuation shows that it is a necessary component, not an optional aside.
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Challenging
A student's thesis is: 'In *The Great Gatsby*, the American Dream, which is ultimately unattainable, leads to moral decay.' What is the logical implication of the punctuation on the essay's argument?
A.The essay will argue that only some characters find the American Dream unattainable.
B.The essay takes for granted that the American Dream is unattainable and will focus on the consequences.
C.The essay will first prove that the American Dream is unattainable and then discuss moral decay.
D.The essay claims moral decay is the cause of the American Dream's unattainability.
Challenging
Which of the following sentences most effectively uses punctuation to establish a critical and skeptical tone toward its subject?
A.The new CEO who promised radical change has started to implement his policies.
B.The new CEO, who promised radical change, has started to implement his policies.
C.The new CEO has started to implement his policies that he promised would bring radical change.
D.The new CEO—promising, as always, radical change—has started to implement his policies.
Challenging
Analyze this sentence: 'The city's oldest bridge, a steel marvel that has withstood a century of floods, is now slated for demolition.' What does the punctuation choice reveal about the author's purpose?
A.The author's main purpose is to describe the bridge's construction material.
B.The author assumes the reader already knows which bridge is being discussed and uses the details to build sympathy or outrage.
C.The author is arguing that only bridges that can withstand floods should be preserved.
D.The author believes the bridge's history is irrelevant to the decision to demolish it.
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