Before which meaning

Commas, the unsung heroes of sentence structure, play a crucial role in conveying meaning effectively when it comes to the placement of commas before or after “which,” understanding the rules is vital for clear and coherent communication.

Comma Before “Which” in Sentences

In many instances, a comma is placed before “which” to set off non-restrictive clauses.

Nonrestrictive clause

This technique adds extra information to a sentence without altering its fundamental meaning. 

In non-restrictive clauses, where the information is supplementary and not crucial to the sentence’s core meaning, a comma is placed before “which.”

Restrictive Clauses are essential to the sentence’s meaningand do not have a preceding comma.

Non-restrictive clauses provide extra information and are set off by commas.

Example 1:

1.

The novel, which was written in the 19th century, remains a classic. (Non-restrictive clauses)

Here, the clause “which was written in the 19th century” provides additional information but is not essential to understanding the main point of the sentence.

Example 2:

2.