IXL | What does the punctuation suggest? | 10th grade language arts

What does the following sentence suggest?

The voters chose the female candidate who had more experience working with local business owners to represent them on the city council.

There is only one female candidate.

There is more than one female candidate.

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Learn with an example

question

What does the following sentence suggest?

At the animal shelter, Alice felt drawn to the calico cat that had a missing ear. Despite its injury, the cat was friendly and affectionate.

There is more than one calico cat at the animal shelter.

There is only one calico cat at the animal shelter.

key idea

A restrictive element in a sentence is necessary in order for a reader to identify exactly who or what is being discussed. Restrictive information is not set off with commas.

The teacher who is retiring is being honored with an award on Friday.

The underlined restrictive clause helps a reader identify which teacher is being honored.

The teacher is being honored with an award on Friday.

Without the restrictive clause, a reader doesn't know which teacher is being honored.

A nonrestrictive element provides information that is supplemental; it is not necessary in order for a reader to identify who or what is being discussed. Nonrestrictive information is always set off with commas.

The Golden Gate Bridge, which first opened in 1937, took over four years to build.

The underlined information isn't required to interpret the sentence.

The Golden Gate Bridge took over four years to build.

Without the information, a reader still knows which bridge took four years to build.

As you write, be sure to use commas correctly to indicate whether information is restrictive or nonrestrictive.

Restrictive:

Ethan's sister Julie has recently started working for a new company in Toronto.

If Ethan has more than one sister, do not use commas around Julie. The name Julie is required in order for a reader to identify which of Ethan's sisters is being discussed.

Nonrestrictive:

Ethan's sister, Julie, has recently started working for a new company in Toronto.

If Ethan has only one sister, use commas around Julie. The name Julie is not needed in order for a reader to identify who is being discussed.

solution

Look at the sentence.

At the animal shelter, Alice felt drawn to the calico cat that had a missing ear. Despite its injury, the cat was friendly and affectionate.

That had a missing ear is not set off by a comma. It is restrictive—it narrows down the identity of the calico cat. So, the sentence suggests that there is more than one calico cat at the animal shelter.

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