Question

When is an adjective clause essential?

Answer 1

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that, just as an adjective, modifies a noun or a pronoun. It begins with words such as when, which, who, whom, whose, why, that, and where.

Adjective clauses can be either essential or nonessential. An essential adjective clause, also known as restrictive adjective clause, provides information that is necessary to identify the word it modifies. On the contrary, nonessential adjective clauses provide additional information about the word it modifies. Nonessential adjective clauses are set off with commas, while the essential ones are not.

Answer 2

An ADJECTIVE CLAUSE is essential if it is necessary or required to make sense of the sentence. Essential ADJECTIVE CLAUSES get zero commas. An ADJECTIVE CLAUSE is non-essential if its information is not critical to the meaning of the sentences. Non-essential ADJECTIVE CLAUSES are set off with commas