Essential Nonessential Clauses Quiz: Comma Rules

1. Which sentence contains a nonessential adjective clause?

Students who study succeed.

The book that I lost was new.

My brother, who lives nearby, visits often.

Cars that are electric save fuel.

The clause adds extra, nonessential information and uses commas.

Explanation

The clause adds extra, nonessential information and uses commas.

2. Which word best completes the sentence? The artist ___ paintings are famous lives here.

Who

Which

Whose

That

Whose shows possession.

Explanation

Whose shows possession.

3. Which sentence correctly uses commas?

My cousin who lives in Texas is visiting.

My cousin, who lives in Texas, is visiting.

My cousin who lives, in Texas is visiting.

My cousin who lives in Texas, is visiting.

Nonessential clauses require commas.

Explanation

Nonessential clauses require commas.

4. Which relative pronoun refers to a place?

Who

Which

Where

Whose

Where refers to locations.

Explanation

Where refers to locations.

5. Which revision fixes the error? Original: The teacher whose I respect helped me.

The teacher who I respect helped me.

The teacher whose respect helped me.

The teacher that respect helped me.

The teacher which I respect helped me.

Who replaces whose when possession is not shown.

Explanation

Who replaces whose when possession is not shown.

6. Which sentence correctly uses when?

The time when we arrived was late.

The reason when we left was clear.

The place when we met was noisy.

The person when I saw was angry.

When refers to time.

Explanation

When refers to time.

7. Revising adjective clauses improves writing by

Removing description

Making sentences vague

Clarifying which noun is described

Shortening paragraphs

Clear adjective clauses improve precision.

Explanation

Clear adjective clauses improve precision.

8. Which sentence correctly uses an adjective clause?

The man which lives next door is friendly.

The man who lives next door is friendly.

The man lives next door who is friendly.

The man living next door who is friendly.

Who is correct for people.

Explanation

Who is correct for people.

9. What punctuation is required for nonessential adjective clauses?

No punctuation

Semicolons

Commas

Colons

Nonessential clauses are set off by commas.

Explanation

Nonessential clauses are set off by commas.

10. Which revision corrects the sentence? Original: The movie which we watched it was exciting.

The movie which we watched was exciting.

The movie we watched it was exciting.

The movie watched was exciting.

The movie which watched was exciting.

Remove the extra pronoun it.

Explanation

Remove the extra pronoun it.

11. Which sentence incorrectly uses that?

The book that I read was interesting.

The person that helped me was kind.

The dog that barked ran away.

The idea that we discussed was helpful.

Who is preferred for people.

Explanation

Who is preferred for people.

12. Which sentence is incorrect?

The city where I was born is small.

The day when we met was special.

The reason why she left it is clear.

The house that we bought is new.

Reason why does not need it.

Explanation

Reason why does not need it.

13. Which adjective clause modifies teacher?

Who explained the lesson

Because explained the lesson

While explaining the lesson

Explaining the lesson

Who explained the lesson describes teacher.

Explanation

Who explained the lesson describes teacher.

14. Which sentence avoids ambiguity?

The student who raised his hand answered the question.

The student answered the question who raised his hand.

The student answered who raised his hand the question.

The student who answered raised his hand the question.

Clear placement avoids confusion.

Explanation

Clear placement avoids confusion.

15. Which adjective clause best completes the sentence? The team ___ practiced the most won the game.

Which practiced the most

Who practiced the most

Whose practiced the most

Where practiced the most

Which refers to a group or thing.

Explanation

Which refers to a group or thing.

Punctuation Rule: Essential and Nonessential Clauses Quiz

1. Which sentence contains a nonessential adjective clause?

2. Which word best completes the sentence? The artist ___ paintings are famous lives here.

3. Which sentence correctly uses commas?

4. Which relative pronoun refers to a place?

5. Which revision fixes the error? Original: The teacher whose I respect helped me.

6. Which sentence correctly uses when?

7. Revising adjective clauses improves writing by

8. Which sentence correctly uses an adjective clause?

9. What punctuation is required for nonessential adjective clauses?

10. Which revision corrects the sentence? Original: The movie which we watched it was exciting.

11. Which sentence incorrectly uses that?

12. Which sentence is incorrect?

13. Which adjective clause modifies teacher?

14. Which sentence avoids ambiguity?

15. Which adjective clause best completes the sentence? The team ___ practiced the most won the game.