Question

Read the following questions silently and then

1. underline the relative;
2. circle the word or phrase which the relative refers to;
3. in pairs, discuss why you think there are commas in four of these sentences.

1. An oculist is a person who treats eye diseases.
2. Ishita’s brother, who is an architect, said the house needs a proper security system.
3. Copper, which is an element, is mixed with zinc to make brass.
4. The shed where aeroplanes are housed is called a hangar.
5. The Indian cricket team is flying to Chennai, where 2011 world cup’s last league match is going to be played.
6. Chanakya, whose disciple was Chandragupta, was a teacher of Economics and Political science in Takshashila University.
7. The countries that export petroleum are planning to hike the price.

Sentences two, three, five and six have commas because ...............................

Answer 1

1. An oculist is a person who treats eye diseases.
   Phrase: An oculist
2. Ishita’s brother, who is an architect, said the house needs a proper security system.
   Phrase: Ishita’s brother
3. Copper, which is an element, is mixed with zinc to make brass.
   Phrase: Copper
4. The shed where aeroplanes are housed is called a hangar.
   Phrase: The shed
5. The Indian cricket team is flying to Chennai, where 2011 world cup’s last league match is going to be played.
   Phrase: Chennai
6. Chanakya, whose disciple was Chandragupta, was a teacher of Economics and Political science in Takshashila University.
   Phrase: Chanakya
7. The countries that export petroleum are planning to hike the price.
   Phrase: The countries

Sentences two, three, five and six have commas because the words of phrases (called clauses) put in commas give extra information. If the clause is removed, it will not affect the essential nature of the sentences. Such clauses are called Non-defining Clauses.