essential clauses

[ɪˈsɛnʃəl ˈklɔːzɪz]
nounpl: essential clauses
orações essenciais / cláusulas essenciais / orações restritivas
1. Dependent clauses that provide necessary information to identify or clarify the noun they modify; their removal would change the meaning of the sentence
In the sentence 'The book that I bought yesterday is excellent,' the clause 'that I bought yesterday' is an essential clause because it specifies which book is being discussed.
Na frase 'O livro que comprei ontem é excelente', a oração 'que comprei ontem' é uma oração essencial porque especifica qual livro está sendo discutido.
2. In grammar, subordinate clauses that are vital to the grammatical completeness and meaning of a sentence
The students who completed their assignments received higher grades. The clause 'who completed their assignments' is essential.
Os estudantes que completaram suas tarefas receberam notas mais altas. A oração 'que completaram suas tarefas' é essencial.
This is primarily a grammatical term used in English language education in both the USA and Brazil. In Brazilian schools, students learn this concept as part of formal grammar instruction, often contrasting it with non-essential clauses. The terminology reflects the importance of understanding how clauses function to preserve or change meaning in written communication.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
restrictive clausesdefining clausesrelative clausesnecessary clauses
Antonyms / Antônimos
non-essential clausesnon-restrictive clausesnon-defining clausesparenthetical clauses

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
orações essenciais / cláusulas restritivas
Standard terminology used in Brazilian grammar education and textbooks
Portugal
orações essenciais / orações restritivas
European Portuguese uses similar terminology with emphasis on 'restritivas'
Academic English
essential clauses / restrictive clauses
Preferred in formal grammar instruction and academic writing

Related Words

dependent clausessubordinate clausesrelative pronounsadjective clausesclause modificationgrammatical structure

Related Idioms & Phrases

the meat of the sentence
the core information
necessary for identification
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