"my father who is a policeman is retiring this year" vs "my father,who is a policeman,is retiring this year."

Question

"my father who is a policeman is retiring this year" vs "my father,who is a policeman,is retiring this year."

Both phrases are correct, but they differ in punctuation usage. The first phrase uses the restrictive relative clause without commas, while the second phrase uses non-restrictive relative clause with commas. The choice between them depends on whether the information about the father being a policeman is essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

This phrase is used when the information about the father being a policeman is essential to the meaning of the sentence.

This phrase is used when the information about the father being a policeman is additional and not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Answer 1

my father who is a policeman is retiring this year

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It uses a restrictive relative clause without commas.

Answer 2

my father,who is a policeman,is retiring this year.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It uses a non-restrictive relative clause with commas.

"my father who is a policeman is retiring this year" vs "my father,who is a policeman,is retiring this year."

my father who is a policeman is retiring this year

my father,who is a policeman,is retiring this year.

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