City of IF

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Here will be a list of grammar terms in their meanings. The list will be updated with one term daily in no particular order. If you have a suggestion, or want to know the meaning of a particular term, pm the Headmaster. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS THREAD. Each term will have its own thread for discussion purposes, reply there.

Appositives
Relative Clauses

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Appositives

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that follows another noun or noun phrase to better describe or add identifying information to the noun or noun phrase. Take the following sentence as an example:

John, the barber, cuts hair daily

In this sentence the noun phrase the barber is used to describe John. Which John is it? The one that is a barber.

There are two types of appositives—restrictive and nonrestrictive. Nonrestrictive appositives, such as the example above, are enclosed in commas. A restricted appositive, see the example below, uses no commas.

The barber John cuts hair daily

In this example, the John restricts the barber, as it identifies exactly which barber it is. Whereas if a nonrestrictive appositive is removed the noun or phrase in the sentence can still be identified, when a restrictive appositive is removed the identity of the noun or phrase it relates to is obscured.

When removing the appositive in the first example, the sentence becomes John cuts hair daily. The identity of John is still clear. But in the second example, the sentence becomes The barber cuts hair daily and the identity of the barber is unknown.

Discuss this term here

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Relative Clause

A relative clause is a type of dependent clause and is similar in use to the appositive. Where the appositive uses a noun phrase to modify another noun phrase, a relative clause uses a clause. A relative clause can be either restrictive or nonrestrictive, with the restrictive being necessary to convey the meaning of the sentence. It is usually introduced using either that or who/whom/whose. Take this sentence as an example:

The type of book that I want is red.

The relative clause in this sentence is that I want. If it were to be removed, the sentence The type of book is red would be left, which does not mean the same thing. In some cases that is not mandatory, and can be left out if desired.

The song he sung was very beautiful (he sung)

I like men who wear big hats. (who wear big hats)

Nonrestrictive relative clauses are not needed to convey the meaning and can be removed if desired. They are usually represented by either which or who/whom/whose, and are enclosed in commas.

The janitor, who used to play soccer, is a very good worker (who used to play soccer)

The computer, which was made in 1997, was very slow (which was made in 1997)

In the two sentences above, the relative clauses could be removed and the meaning of the sentence would not be obscured.

The janitor is a good worker.

The computer was very slow.

Discuss this term here