Grammar Worksheet · Grades 6–8
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 6-8 on restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. Students decide whether each underlined clause is essential (restrictive, no commas) or extra (nonrestrictive, set off with commas) across eight sentences, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.
Subject
Grammar
Grades
Grades 6–8
Skill Focus
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses, sentence structure
Lesson Length
20 minutes
Lesson Overview
About this worksheet
A restrictive clause gives information essential to the meaning of a sentence and takes no commas, while a nonrestrictive clause adds extra information and is set off with commas. This worksheet helps students decide which kind a clause is by asking whether it is needed to identify what the sentence is about.
Section A on page 1 gives eight sentences with one clause marked, and students write restrictive or nonrestrictive. The reference box teaches both with a ‘book that I borrowed’ example and a ‘My brother, who lives in Texas’ example, so the assessed sentences stay independent of the model.
Section B on page 2 asks what kind of information a restrictive clause gives, whether it takes commas, how a nonrestrictive clause is punctuated, and to write a sentence with a nonrestrictive clause. Page 3 is a complete answer key with sample answers. The skill builds on relative pronouns and comma rules.
How to Use This Lesson
Read the reference box aloud and try removing each example clause to test if the sentence still points to the right thing.
Complete Section A independently – have students ask ‘is this clause needed to know which one?’
Discuss why only nonrestrictive clauses get commas.
Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check.
Pair with the Relative Pronouns Worksheet or the Commas in a Series Worksheet.
Printable Resource
A classroom-ready PDF with everything in one printable resource.
Full Member Resource · Printable PDF · 3 pages · Answer Key
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 6-8 on restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. Students decide whether each underlined clause is essential (restrictive, no commas) or extra (nonrestrictive, set off with commas) across eight sentences, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.
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