A restrictive clause is the part you can’t drop; the two correct sentences keep that clause without commas.
Questions that ask you to pick two sentences with a restrictive clause show up in grammar quizzes, editing tasks, and test passages. The trick is that the answer isn’t about fancy labels. It’s about meaning: does the extra clause narrow down which person or thing you mean?
Once you know what to check, these questions get calmer. You’ll spot the clause, test it, then match the two sentences that need it.
What A Restrictive Clause Means In Plain English
A restrictive clause is a dependent clause that describes a noun in a way the reader needs to identify it. If you remove the clause, the sentence either changes meaning or turns vague because you no longer know which person, place, or thing the writer meant.
You’ll often see restrictive clauses introduced by that, who, or which. The word choice can vary by style and region, so meaning matters more than the pronoun.
- Restrictive clause: narrows the noun to a smaller set.
- Nonrestrictive clause: adds extra detail about a noun that’s already clear.
Fast Tests That Tell You What You’re Seeing
When you’re staring at options and two are correct, use these quick tests. You don’t need to label every grammar piece. You just need to see whether the clause is doing the job of identification.
Test 1: The Drop Test
Hide the clause with your finger and read the sentence without it. Ask a question: does the reader still know who or what is meant? If the answer becomes “wait, which one,” the clause is restrictive.
Test 2: The “Which One” Test
If the clause answers “which one?” or “which ones?” about the noun, it’s restrictive. If it answers “tell me more about the one I already know,” it’s nonrestrictive.
Test 3: The Pause And Comma Clue
Nonrestrictive clauses are often set off with commas and a pause in speech. Restrictive clauses usually run straight into the sentence with no commas. Punctuation helps, yet meaning still comes first because writers make comma mistakes.
Restrictive Clause Vs Nonrestrictive Clause At A Glance
| Signal | Restrictive Clause | Nonrestrictive Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Reader needs it to identify the noun | Reader can identify the noun without it |
| Drop test | Removing it changes meaning or creates confusion | Removing it keeps the core meaning clear |
| Commas | No commas in most cases | Commas on both sides in most cases |
| Common starters | that, who, which, where, when | which, who, whose, where, when |
| Set size | Points to a smaller group | Talks about the whole group |
| Reading feel | Flows with no pause | Feels like an aside with a pause |
| Typical school label | Defining clause | Non-defining clause |
| Comma errors | Often missing commas is fine | Missing commas can change meaning |
The Comma Rule That Most Questions Are Testing
Many test items are asking if you know when commas belong around a clause. A clause that adds side detail gets commas. A clause that narrows the noun does not. That’s the main pattern you’re being asked to apply.
If you want a clear rule set with clean sentence samples, see Purdue OWL Commas With Extra Elements. It lays out when commas surround extra words and clauses.
Still, don’t let commas boss you around. Writers put commas in the wrong spot all the time. If punctuation and meaning conflict, follow meaning and treat the punctuation as a clue that might be wrong.
That, Which, Who, And Why Pronouns Don’t Solve It Alone
Some teachers say “use that for restrictive and which for nonrestrictive.” You’ll see that in many American style guides. In real writing, you’ll also see which used restrictively, especially in British English. So treat pronouns as hints, not as the whole answer.
A solid reference on this point is Purdue OWL That vs. Which. The page explains the common punctuation pattern and why it affects meaning.
Which Two Sentences Contain A Restrictive Clause?
When a question asks you to pick two sentences, it’s telling you there are two clauses that are needed to identify the noun being modified. Your job is to match meaning, not to hunt commas.
Use this repeatable routine. It works on classroom worksheets and on editing questions in longer passages.
Step 1: Find The Noun That Gets Described
Locate the noun right before the clause. It might be a person, a place, a thing, or a group. If you can’t find the noun, you can’t judge the clause.
Step 2: Box The Clause
Mark the words that start with that, who, which, where, or when, then end at the clause’s verb phrase. In tests, the clause is often an adjective clause that sticks close to the noun.
Step 3: Run The Drop Test
Read the sentence without the clause. If the sentence now points to too many possible nouns, the clause is restrictive. If it still points to the same noun clearly, the clause is nonrestrictive.
Step 4: Check What The Clause Is Doing
Ask, “Is this clause picking the noun out of a set?” If yes, it’s restrictive. Ask, “Is it just giving extra detail?” If yes, it’s nonrestrictive.
Step 5: Use Commas As A Final Clue
If commas surround the clause, it’s likely nonrestrictive. If there are no commas, it’s likely restrictive. If commas are missing or misplaced, stick with meaning.
Try A Mini Set And See The Pattern
Read these four sentences and pick the two that contain a restrictive clause. Don’t rush. Do the drop test on each.
- The students who finished early turned in their papers.
- My brother, who lives in Chattogram, is visiting this week.
- Cars that have worn tires need longer stopping distance.
- Our math teacher, who also coaches football, gave us a review sheet.
Answer: Sentences 1 and 3 contain restrictive clauses. In 1, “who finished early” tells you which students. In 3, “that have worn tires” tells you which cars.
Common Traps That Make The Wrong Two Seem Right
These questions are built around traps. Once you know the traps, you’ll stop second-guessing yourself.
Trap 1: A Comma That Changes The Set
Compare these two meanings.
- The dogs that bark at night keep the neighbors awake. (Not all dogs.)
- The dogs, that bark at night, keep the neighbors awake. (Comma use here is off, and the meaning gets muddy.)
If a sentence uses commas with a clause that narrows the noun, treat it as a comma error and judge by meaning.
Trap 2: Appositives That Seem Like Clauses
An appositive renames a noun, like “My friend Asha.” It can be restrictive or nonrestrictive, and commas still follow the same meaning rule. Don’t confuse an appositive phrase with a clause that has its own verb.
Trap 3: Prepositional Phrases Versus Clauses
A phrase like “in the red folder” can narrow a noun, yet it isn’t a clause because it has no subject-verb pair. If the question asks for a restrictive clause, stay with clauses.
Trap 4: Adverb Clauses That Tell Time Or Reason
“When the bell rang” is a clause, yet it modifies the verb, not a noun. A restrictive clause question almost always targets a clause that modifies a noun.
Finding Two Sentences That Contain A Restrictive Clause In Practice
Do this drill a few times and your speed will jump. Read each sentence, box the clause, then label it restrictive or nonrestrictive using the drop test.
- The book that won the prize is sold out.
- Bangladesh, which borders India and Myanmar, has six seasons in local tradition.
- People who skip breakfast often feel hungry by midmorning.
- The laptop, which I bought last year, still runs well.
- Any applicant who submits late may lose a spot.
- My aunt, who teaches chemistry, likes long walks.
Check: Restrictive: 1, 3, 5. Nonrestrictive: 2, 4, 6.
Decision Checklist For Picking The Two Sentences
When you’re stuck between two choices, run this checklist. It turns a fuzzy feeling into a repeatable call.
| Question To Ask | If Yes | If No |
|---|---|---|
| Does the clause answer “which one(s)”? | Restrictive is likely | Nonrestrictive is likely |
| Does removing it make the noun unclear? | Restrictive | Nonrestrictive |
| Is the noun already specific (name, specific title)? | Nonrestrictive is more likely | Restrictive is more likely |
| Do commas surround the clause? | Nonrestrictive is likely | Restrictive is likely |
| Would the sentence point to a smaller group with the clause? | Restrictive | Nonrestrictive |
| Does the clause feel like an aside? | Nonrestrictive | Restrictive |
| Is the clause tied to a noun, not the main verb? | Keep testing | It may be an adverb clause |
| Is there a verb inside the extra words? | It’s a clause | It’s a phrase, not a clause |
How To Punctuate After You Pick The Two Sentences
Many assignments pair identification with editing. Once you know a clause is restrictive, you usually remove commas around it. Once you know a clause is nonrestrictive, you usually add commas around it.
- Restrictive: The movie that starts at eight is sold out.
- Nonrestrictive: The movie, which starts at eight, is sold out.
Notice how the second sentence sounds like the reader already knows which movie you mean, and the clause just adds timing. In the first sentence, the clause helps identify the movie.
Using The Skill In Real Writing
Outside tests, this skill keeps your sentences clear. When you add a clause, you’re making a promise to the reader: either you’re narrowing the noun, or you’re giving extra detail. Punctuation should match that promise.
Try this quick edit on your next paragraph. Circle each relative clause. Ask which noun it modifies. Then run the drop test. If the noun goes fuzzy without the clause, keep it tight with no commas. If the noun stays clear, set the clause off with commas.
Final Check Before You Submit
When you see this prompt, treat it like a meaning puzzle. Find the noun, box the clause, drop it, then decide whether the clause is needed to identify the noun. Do that twice, and the correct two sentences will stand out.
If you want one last safety pass, read the two sentences you picked out loud. If the clause sounds like it must stay glued to the noun with no pause, you’re in restrictive-clause territory. If it sounds like a side comment, you’re in nonrestrictive territory.
In your own writing, the reward is simple: readers don’t have to stop and guess what you mean.
In the body of a test response, you might even write: “which two sentences contain a restrictive clause?” then answer with the sentence numbers, using the same meaning tests you used here.
And later, when you revise your draft, ask the same question again: “which two sentences contain a restrictive clause?” It’s a quick way to catch comma slips before they cost you points.