What is a Restrictive Clause?

A dependent, or subordinate, clause contains a subject and a verb or verb phrase but does not express a complete thought. As a result, it cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses can function either as noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverb clauses.

A restrictive clause (also known as an essential clause) is a type of adjective clause that provides information necessary for identifying the word it modifies. A restrictive clause begins with words such as that, when, where, who, whom, whose, which and why. In contrast, a nonrestrictive (or nonessential) clause provides additional information about a word whose meaning is already clear. Nonrestrictive clauses often begin with the word which and are set off with commas.

When deciding whether to include the word that or which in an adjective clause, remember to use that for a restrictive clause and which for nonrestrictive clauses: What is a Restrictive Clause?

Restrictive clause: I brought the pie that I baked to the holiday party. ( That I baked is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject I and the verb baked. The clause modifies the noun pie, providing necessary information about it.)

Nonrestrictive clause: The kangaroo, which is a type of marsupial , keeps its young in its pouch. ( Which is a type of marsupial is a nonrestrictive adjective clause. It contains the subject which and the verb is. The clause modifies the noun kangaroo, providing additional, nonessential information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Examples

Restrictive Clause Example: The person who taught the ceramics class is a friend of my mother’s.

( Who taught the ceramics class is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject who and the verb taught. The clause modifies the noun person, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Examples

( Where Natalie works is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject Natalie and the verb works. The clause modifies the noun shop, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: Pilar is the girl whose family moved here from Argentina .

( Whose family moved here from Argentina is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject family and the verb moved. The clause modifies the noun girl, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: Roller derby is a sport that I like to watch .

( That I like to watch is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject I and the verb like. The clause modifies the noun sport, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: The kids whom I babysit love to go to the park.

( Whom I babysit is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject I and the verb babysit. The clause modifies the noun kids, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: In social studies class, we learned about the years when the country went through the Great Depression .

( When the country went through the Great Depression is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject country and the verb went. The clause modifies the noun years, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: Do you know the reason why rainbows consist of so many different colors ?

( Why rainbows consist of so many different colors is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject rainbows and the verb consist. The clause modifies the noun reason, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: This is the studio where Marta takes her jewelry-making class .

( Where Marta takes her jewelry-making class is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject Marta and the verb takes. The clause modifies the noun studio , providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: Ivo is my cousin who lives in California .

( Who lives in California is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject who and the verb lives. The clause modifies the noun cousin, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: August and September are the months when I travel the most .

( When I travel the most is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject I and the verb travel. The clause modifies the noun months, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: Cereal is the food that I prefer to have for breakfast .

(That I prefer to have for breakfast is an adjective restrictive clause. It contains the subject I and the verb prefer. The clause modifies the noun food, providing necessary information about it.)

Restrictive Clause Example: The Andersons are the neighbors whose lawn mower we borrowed .

( Whose lawn mower we borrowed is a restrictive adjective clause. It contains the subject we and the verb borrowed. The clause modifies the noun neighbors, providing necessary information about it.)