Which statement describes a non-defining relative clause?

Which statement describes a non-defining relative clause?

• A. It provides essential information about the noun
• B. It adds extra information about the noun
• C. It defines the noun with a relative pronoun
• D. It must not be separated by commas

Answer: (B)

Non-defining relative clauses add extra information about a noun and are set off by commas. They don’t identify which noun is being talked about; the sentence would still be clear without them. For example, in “The musician, who won the award last year, performed again,” the clause adds a detail but isn’t needed to know which musician is meant. If you remove it, you still refer to the same person. By contrast, defining relative clauses provide essential information to identify the noun and are not separated by commas. This is why the statement that fits a non-defining relative clause is that it adds extra information about the noun.

Non-defining relative clauses add extra information about a noun and are set off by commas. They don’t identify which noun is being talked about; the sentence would still be clear without them. For example, in “The musician, who won the award last year, performed again,” the clause adds a detail but isn’t needed to know which musician is meant. If you remove it, you still refer to the same person. By contrast, defining relative clauses provide essential information to identify the noun and are not separated by commas. This is why the statement that fits a non-defining relative clause is that it adds extra information about the noun.