The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002

14.1. Restrictive and non-restrictive meaning
Unit fourteen. Modifying

Sections 110-112

Modifiers before or after the noun help to specify the meaning exactly.

There is also a non-restrictive type of modifier, such as a non-defining relative clause.

Sometimes a modifying adjective before a proper noun can be non-restrictive.

Task one **

Modify and make more restrictive the items below by adding one of the phrases here. Each phrase may only be used once.

delayed; from Latvia; heavy; Hungarian; local; marketing; on the hill; that went bankrupt; who reported the crime; for sale

1. the house

2. the business

3. the history society

4. a visitor

5. a fall of snow

6. the manager

7. the President

8. the 6.45 train

9. the woman

10. the school

Task two **

The noun phrases below could have restrictive (R) or non-restrictive (N-R) modifiers. Show how the meaning would differ in each case.

1. The large animal parks are now closed.

2. The old houses in the main square were razed to the ground.

3. The unreliable train services have upset the travelling public.

4. The Finnish students enjoyed the course.

5. The hard-working students were given a week’s break.

6. The democratically sophisticated voters wanted equality and transparency.

7. The under-staffed hospitals may get more money.

8. The French teachers had good exam results.

9. The poor students had to work during the vacation.

10. The famous portraits by Reubens attracted a lot of attention.

Task three **

Show how the pairs of phrases may differ in meaning.