restrictive modification
[rɪˈstrɪktɪv ˌmɑːdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən]
nounpl: restrictive modifications
modificação restritiva
1. A grammatical modification that limits or defines the meaning of a noun by providing essential information that distinguishes it from other members of its class, typically without commas in written form
In the sentence 'The students who completed their homework passed the exam,' the clause 'who completed their homework' is a restrictive modification that specifies which students passed.
Na frase 'Os alunos que fizeram a tarefa passaram na prova', a oração 'que fizeram a tarefa' é uma modificação restritiva que especifica quais alunos passaram.
2. A dependent clause or phrase that is essential to the meaning of the sentence and cannot be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning
The book that won the prize became a bestseller. (The restrictive clause identifies which book)
O livro que ganhou o prêmio se tornou um bestseller. (A oração restritiva identifica qual livro)
This is a technical grammatical term used primarily in educational contexts in both English-speaking countries and Brazil. It's essential knowledge for grammar instruction, writing instruction, and linguistics courses. Understanding the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive modifications is important for proper punctuation and sentence clarity in both English and Portuguese academic and professional writing.
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