Which Sentence Contains a Restrictive Clause?

Which Sentence Contains a Restrictive Clause?

A. They decided to meet where the band was performing.
 

B. The children, sweaty and miserable, piled into the bus.
 

C. They put the baby, who was fast asleep, in his crib.
 

D. The girls, overwhelmed by the sale, bought many shoes.
 

E. The child, who was now wailing, ran toward his mother.
 

Answer: A. They decided to meet where the band was performing.

Explanation: A restrictive clause (or essential clause) is a part of sentence that is essential to the meaning of the sentence. It limits or defines the noun it is modifying and is not separated by commas. In Option A, "where the band was performing" is restrictive because it tells us where they decided to meet. Without this clause, the sentence "They decided to meet" would be incomplete. This clause is necessary to understand where the meeting is taking place, making it essential and therefore restrictive.
 

On the other hand, the rest of the options (B through E) contain nonrestrictive clauses, which provide non-essential information that is set off by commas. In choice C, for example, "who was fast asleep" provides information about the baby but doesnot defines which baby is referred to.