Use of Comma in Adjective Clause

Question

Hi All

Below are two similar sentences involving adjective clause

The nurse called a doctor, who came quickly.
The nurse called a doctor who came quickly.

1. Which one according to GMAT is correct?

2. Also if we dont put a comma does that make this clause an essential clause?

Thanks

crick20002002 · Answer

I am not an expert , but here are my two cents:

1) The nurse called a doctor, who came quickly.
2) The nurse called a doctor who came quickly.

I believe 1) above is correct as it conveys the intent correctly.

2) seems to suggest that nurse was "calling that particular doctor who came quickly".

And as you pointed out, essential modifiers do not contain comma, while non-essential modifiers are seperated from the main clause by a comma.

Crick

Tamao411284 · Answer

Hi,
To me the first sentence is correct as:
1) The nurse called a doctor, who came quickly.- Here who acts an pronoun (that modifies the noun doctor only, as replacing the nurse (in who) makes the sentence nonsensical and ambiguous) and the noun phrase "who came quickly" correctly modifies the doctor. CORRECT.
2) The nurse called a doctor who came quickly. (this is also correct in gmat but not preferred if above option is present. The phrase who came quickly also acts as NOUN modifier and modifies doctor only and placed as near as possible to the noun).

For essential and Non essential modifiers :
always in gmat that acts an essential modifier and which as a non essential modifier.

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Hi raviram80,

Thank you for your question! #1 is the correct answer because it tells the order of events correctly. Here is quick breakdown of what each answer really means:

1) The nurse called a doctor, who came quickly.
The nurse called a doctor...THEN he came quickly. This is the correct cause/effect relationship: the doctor doesn't rush over until AFTER he's been called.

2) The nurse called a doctor who came quickly.
The nurse is calling a doctor as he is already on his way over. This doesn't work because it suggests both events happened AT THE SAME TIME. Since we understand this isn't likely (or even possible), it's incorrect.

Mansi89 · Answer

Who is for doctor, and doctor is object.

My question is, shouldn’t we use whom in sentence??

Posted from my mobile device

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi Mansi,  who  is a  subject  pronoun while  whom  is an  object  pronoun.

In the clause  who came quickly , hope you agree that  who  is the  subject  (referring to  Doctor ).

Hence, the usage of subject pronoun  who  is correct.

Use of Comma in Adjective Clause

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