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Panda blue 483 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Nonessential parts of the sentence/interruptions.

Rule: Use commas before and after nonessential words, phrases, and clauses, that is, elements embedded in the sentence that interrupt it without changing the essential meaning.




Would this example need a relative clause (who is blind to his human rights or is this optional. The implied meaning is the same either way is it not ? The rule says 'clauses' but isn't specific.


What about the when the appostive comes next to the nonessential element: is this ok as written.

The officer continues to interrogate the suspect, a spy, blind to his human rights, as it is revealed he's working for the resistance.


  

Top answer

The officer continues to interrogate the suspect, a spy , blind to his human rights , as it is revealed he's working for the resistance. Yes, you could use a relative clause here, but it's not essential since the meaning would be the same. The adjective phrase "blind to his human rights" refers to"suspect", just as the relative clause would.

— BillJ

  • The officer continues to interrogate the suspect, a spy , blind to his human rights , as it is revealed he's working for the resistance.
  • Yes, you could use a relative clause here, but it's not essential since the meaning would be the same.
  • The adjective phrase "blind to his human rights" refers to"suspect", just as the relative clause would.
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2 Answers
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The officer continues to interrogate the suspect, a spy, blind to his human rights, as it is revealed he's working for the resistance.

Yes, you could use a relative clause here, but it's not essential since the meaning would be the same. The adjective phrase "blind to his human rights" refers to"suspect", just as the relative clause would.



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panda blue 483The officer continues to interrogate the suspect, a spy, blind to his human rights, as it is revealed he's working for the resistance.

I take 'blind to his human rights' as restrictive, so I would omit that comma after 'spy'.

CJ

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