Extension Exercises

Index | Chapter 28 - Defining and non-defining phrases and clauses | Possible Answers

Exploring English

Skim through some pages of any book or magazine.

1. Underline:
   • phrases in apposition
   • prepositional phrases
   • participle, infinitive and relative clauses.
2. Classify each of these as defining or non-defining, or other. Are any of these ambiguous cases, i.e. not clearly one or the other?
3. What proportion of these phrases are defining, non-defining and ambiguous?
4. Are commas used to separate non-defining clauses from the main clause?

Course materials

Choose one or two coursebooks and look at those parts which teach defining and non-defining clauses and phrases.

1. Are the learners encouraged to notice and analyse how these are used in real text?
2. Does the material deal with phrases and clauses other than relative clauses?
3. What kinds of opportunity for practice are provided?
4. How much attention is paid to pronunciation differences in defining and non-defining clauses and phrases?
5. Does the material suggest that we always separate non-defining clauses and phrases from the rest of the sentence by a comma, or does it acknowledge that we are flexible about this?
6. Does the material acknowledge that it is not always clear whether phrases are defining or non-defining?

Possible Answers