nonrestrictive

(adjective)

Describes a modifier that can be dropped from a sentence without changing the meaning. 

Related Terms

  • infinitive
  • adjective
  • preposition
  • participle
  • finite verb
  • adverb

Examples of nonrestrictive in the following topics:

  • Introduction to Commas

    • Some modifiers are nonrestrictive, meaning that the sentence would still have essentially the same meaning, topic, and structure without them.
    • In this sentence, "new" and "weird" are nonrestrictive.
    • Because the name Alice Smith is just adding information, and the sentence would still have the same basic meaning without it, this is an example of a nonrestrictive appositive.
    • Nonrestrictive appositives do require commas.
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