descriptive clause
- noun
- /dɪˈskrɪptɪv klɔz/
- Specialized
:
cláusula descriptiva
- In 'My brother, who lives in Paris, is coming to visit,' 'who lives in Paris' is a descriptive clause.
Examples
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You should use commas to set off a descriptive clause from the rest of the sentence.
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The book, which is on the table, contains a descriptive clause.
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The sentence includes a descriptive clause that provides more information about the subject.
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In the sentence, the descriptive clause adds detail.
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In the sentence 'The car, which is red, is parked outside,' 'which is red' is a descriptive clause.
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A descriptive clause can help clarify details about the noun it describes, like in 'The teacher, who is very experienced, gave us useful tips.'
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Using a descriptive clause such as 'that he bought last year' adds extra information in the sentence 'The bike, that he bought last year, needs repairs.'
Synonyms
A part of a sentence that gives more information about a noun but does not change which noun we mean
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
7.5
A part of a sentence that gives essential information about a noun and is not set off by commas
How Restrictive
- Specialized
1
7.5
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'descriptive' means giving details and 'clause' is a unit of grammar, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a clause that provides descriptive information. While the technical nuance about non-restrictive vs. restrictive clauses is grammatical, the basic notion of 'a clause that describes' is cross-linguistically common and immediately understandable from the constituents.
Etymology
Descriptive clause literally names a small group of words: a clause that describes a noun, like a tiny label on a person saying extra facts such as 'who lives in Paris'. So a descriptive clause gives extra detail and is often set off by commas.