PUNCTUATING RESTRICTIVE AND UNCO-ORDINATE MODIFIERS
In this module, you will learn to do the following:
 Identify restrictive and nonrestrictive modifiers
 Identify unco-ordinate adjectives
 Use commas correctly with restrictive and nonrestrictive
modifiers
 Use commas correctly with unco-ordinate adjectives.
Introduction
We'll investigate the uses of the comma with restrictive and nonrestrictive modifiers and
with co-ordinate and unco-ordinate adjectives. In our discussions, the term "noun" includes
pronouns also.
Restrictive
When we say restrictive, we mean that we are referring exclusively to the noun being
described. We are referring to that noun and only that noun. Here's an example.
"We have received the letter concerning the lost shipment."
"Concerning the lost shipment" modifies the noun letter. We are dealing ONLY with the
letter concerning the lost shipment. Our interest is limited, confined, restricted to the letter
concerning the lost shipment and to no other letter.
In other words,
THE MODIFIER IS ESSENTIAL TO THE MEANING OF THE SENTENCE.
Nonrestrictive
A nonrestrictive modifier does not confine or restrict the noun modified. A nonrestrictive
modifier simply offers more nonessential information about the noun. Here's an example.
"Ms. Chakravorty, waiting at the counter, is demanding an immediate refund."
"Waiting at the counter" modifies the noun Ms. Chakravorty. In this whole universe, there
exists (in theory) ONLY one Ms. Chakravorty. So there is no reason to restrict the noun.
The noun Ms. Chakravorty restricts itself.
Yes, I know. Ms. Chakravorty could have a sister with her. Of course! Then, in that case,
we would need to restrict the noun. We would have to write
"Ms. Chakravorty waiting at the counter is demanding an immediate refund."
Can you see that, by removing the commas, we've restricted the noun Ms. Chakravorty?
We are telling the reader that we have at least two Ms. Chakravortys in the store and we
need to know to which one we are referring.
Procedure
We'll attack a few sentences containing modifiers. Our procedure will guide us in
 Determining whether or not the modifiers are restrictive

Determining what punctuation is necessary.
The modifiers we'll look at will consist of phrases and clauses. We will look at only relative
clauses--clauses starting with personal and impersonal pronouns.
Restrictive or Nonrestrictive?
Sentence:
"The book lying on the desk is mine."
1. Identify the modifier.
Look for a group of words acting as an adjective.
We identify mine, a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective; but we are not concerned
with single-word modifiers because they do not pose any problems.
We identify the phrase "lying on the desk."
2. Identify the modifiee (the word modified).
We identify "book."
Lying on the desk modifies the noun book.
3. Ask: Do I have to know which book?
If the answer is yes, do not use any commas. If the answer is no, use commas.
Do I have to know which book?
Certainly! Of the millions of books in the world, you have to know which one.
4. Punctuate according to the answer.
Yes=use no commas. No=use commas.
Solution
The answer "yes" directs us to use no commas. Thus, the sentence
"The book lying on the desk is mine"
is correctly punctuated the way it has been written.
Another sentence:
"Drama 101 which I enjoy immensely will not be offered next semester."
1. Identify the modifier.
We identify "which I enjoy immensely."
2. Identify the modifiee (the noun or pronoun being modified).
We identify "Drama 101."
3. Ask: Do I have to know which Drama 101?
No. Drama 101 is one of a kind.
4. Punctuate according to the answer.
Yes=use no commas. No=use commas.
Commas are required around the nonrestrictive modifier "which I enjoy immensely."
"Drama 101, which I enjoy immensely, will not be offered next semester."
Practice
Now let's try some rapid-fire sentences and learn some new concepts along the way. We'll
streamline the procedure. However, if you experience problems, refer to the complete
procedure.
Sentence:
"The car that is parked at the curb belongs to Alice Newton."
Modifier: "that is parked at the curb." Modifiee: car.
Have to know? Yes.
Yes=use no commas. Thus:
"The car that is parked at the curb belongs to Alice Newton."
Clauses beginning with "that" are always restrictive and take no commas.
NOTES: Try to use "that" to introduce all restrictive clauses and ", which" for
nonrestrictive. Unfortunately, you can't use "that" or "which" for people ("Identifying
Pronouns").
Do not use "that" if "that" is already in the sentence.
Also, if you have more than one "that" clause in the sentence, change "that" to "which."
Do not use "that" in sentences which have "this," "these," or "those" pointing to "that." For
example, in the following sentences, the single quotation marks (') indicate where "that"
has been replaced by "which."
"That is a book 'which' you must read."
"She wants a book 'which' has a good plot and 'which' develops characters."
"Those are the books 'which' she has ordered."
Sentence:
"Allan my college roommate has invited me to his home for the holidays."
Modifier: my college roommate. Modifiee: Allan
Have to know? No.
No=use commas. Thus:
"Allan, my college roommate, has invited me to his home for the holidays."
With proper nouns (beginning with capital letters) you never need to know which one.
When nonrestrictive modifiers start or end a sentence, place a comma after them or before
them. When these modifiers appear inside a sentence, place a comma before and after.
Adjectives
Compare the comma punctuation in the two sentences below.
"The clerk showed us some red, green, and white T-shirts."
"We watched the four tall maple trees sway in the wind."
Why does the first sentence contain commas? Why does the second sentence contain no
commas? Yet both sentences contain a multiseries of three adjectives. How about a hint-the definitions of the terms?
Co-ordinate: (adj) a word meaning of equal importance or value.
Unco-ordinate: (adj) a word meaning NOT of equal importance or value.
Co-ordinate Adjectives
Right! Red, green, white are all colours. Colours are colours. One colour is as important as
any other. All colours have the same value. They all belong to one family, so to speak.
Unco-ordinate Adjectives
By contrast, four tall maple are not of equal value. These three adjectives come from
different families. Four is a number. Tall is a technical description, and maple is a noun
being used as an adjective. These three adjectives are unequal--are unco-ordinate.
I think we can safely state that
Co-ordinate adjectives are punctuated as a series.
Unco-ordinate adjectives are not related ("Punctuating a Series with Commas"); thus, they
cannot form a series.
Without a series, we cannot punctuate with commas.
Let's have a look at what determines when an adjective is co-ordinate or unco-ordinate.
Families
Before we practice punctuating co-ordinate/unco-ordinate adjectives, we need to look at
families. The families we'll look at will give you an insight into deciding whether or not
adjectives are "related." You'll have no need to memorize the families. You need only
become aware that several different families exist and that most of our adjectives can be
placed into one family or other.
List of families:
Ordinal numbers, cardinal numbers, general description;
technical description, colour, origin, noun modifier, type.
Here is an example of a phrase using adjectives from all the families.
"The first five unsold large black Mediterranean oak dining TABLES"
Procedure
To punctuate, we study each adjective and place it into a family. If the adjectives belong to
different families, we cannot punctuate because these unrelated adjectives cannot form a
series. If the adjectives belong to the same family, the adjectives can form a series, and
we can punctuate in the same manner that we learned in "Punctuating a Series with
Commas," And again, as in "Punctuating a Series with Commas," partial series may exist.
Enter the necessary comma punctuation.
Sentence:
"Everybody's help was needed to load the two wet canvas tents."
1. Identify the adjectives.
We identify two and wet and canvas.
2. Confirm that the adjectives are in the same family.
We attempt to confirm.
Two is a cardinal number.
Wet is a technical description.
Canvas is a noun modifier (a noun used as an adjective).
The adjectives are from different families.
3. Confirm you have a series.
We do not have series.
4. Punctuate for the type of series you've identified.
We do not have a series, so we cannot punctuate.
The sentence is correct the way it has been written.
Let's try another.
Sentence:
"We went to a well-known expensive restaurant for the last group dinner."
1. Identify the adjectives.
We identify well-known and expensive and last and group.
2. Confirm that the adjectives are in the same family.
Well-known is a general description.
Expensive is a general description.
Last is an ordinal number.
Group is a noun modifier.
Two adjectives are from the same family, and two are from different families.
3. Confirm you have a series.
We confirm we have one duo series (two consecutive adjectives from the same family).
4. Punctuate for the type of series you've identified.
With duo series adjectives, use either a conjunction or a comma.
But we want comma punctuation, so
We place a comma between well-known and expensive.
"We went to a well-known, expensive restaurant for the last group dinner."
NOTE: Same-family adjectives must appear consecutively (one after another) to form a
series.
Practice
Let's try one more question.
Sentence:
"Mukul was a young tall slim track and field athlete."
Adjectives: young tall slim track field.
Families: technical, technical, technical, noun, noun.
Series? Yes, three technical. Yes, two noun modifiers.
Solution
Technical = young, tall, slim (multiseries) no comma after last item.
Noun modifiers = conjunction (duo series), so no commas needed.
Answer= Mukul was a young, tall, slim track and field athlete.
Did you try to place a comma after "slim"? That's a no, no because you would be placing a
comma between two different families.
Exercises
For all 10 questions, select the sentence that is correctly punctuated. The answers appear
after the last question.
1.
A. Books, intended for a young readership, must use a simple vocabulary.
B. Books intended for a young readership, must use a simple vocabulary.
C. Books intended for a young readership must use a simple vocabulary.
2.
A. The candidates, who were not successful, received consolation prizes.
B. The candidates who were not successful received consolation prizes.
C. The candidates that were not successful, received consolation prizes.
3.
A. This appears to be an antique, French, dining table.
B. This appears to be an antique, French dining table.
C. This appears to be an antique French dining table.
4.
A. I donated my old, broken, mountain bike to charity.
B. I donated my old broken mountain bike to charity.
C. I donated my old broken, mountain bike to charity.
5.
A. The first three marathon runners will advance to the finals.
B. The first, three, marathon, runners will advance to the finals.
C. The first, three, marathon runners will advance to the finals.
6.
A. The interviews were held in the Rosewood Room, on the sixth floor, of the Century
Building.
B. The interviews were held in the Rosewood Room, on the sixth floor of the Century
Building.
C. The interviews were held in the Rosewood Room on the sixth floor of the Century
Building.
7.
A. We gave the CD to Annie Yellow Bird, who appreciates traditional western music.
B. We gave the CD to Annie Yellow Bird, who appreciates, traditional western music.
C. We gave the CD to Annie Yellow Bird who appreciates traditional western music.
8.
A. He wants a car that is reliable and that is cheap.
B. He wants a car that is reliable and which is cheap.
C. He wants a car which is reliable and which is cheap.
9.
A. These are the keys that I lost yesterday.
B. These are the keys, which I lost yesterday.
C. These are the keys which I lost yesterday.
10.
A. Retailers, who ignore their clients' suggestions, are not likely to succeed.
B. Retailers who ignore their clients' suggestions are not likely to succeed.
C. Retailers that ignore their clients' suggestions are not likely to succeed.
Answers
1, C. 2, B. 3, C. 4, B. 5, A. 6, B. 7, A. 8, C. 9, C. 10, B.