Why are nonrestrictive clauses used
Nonrestrictive clauses are used to provide additional information about a noun in a sentence without changing the core meaning or essential identity of the noun. They are not necessary for the basic understanding of the sentence and can be removed without altering the meaning. Nonrestrictive clauses are typically set off by commas, dashes, or parenthesis.
These clauses add extra details, examples, or explanations, and help to provide additional information that is not essential to the sentence's main idea. They can enhance the description of a noun by adding more specific or descriptive elements, and provide additional context or background information.
For example:
- "My friend, who lives in Australia, is coming to visit next month." (The nonrestrictive clause "who lives in Australia" provides additional information about the friend but is not necessary to understand the sentence's main idea, which is that the friend is coming to visit next month.)
- "The Eiffel Tower, a famous landmark in Paris, attracts millions of tourists every year." (The nonrestrictive clause "a famous landmark in Paris" adds more description to the Eiffel Tower but can be removed without changing the main idea that it attracts tourists.)
Overall, nonrestrictive clauses are used to add extra information, clarify or provide context, and enhance the overall understanding of a sentence, while giving flexibility in terms of what can be included in the sentence.