Question

recognizing nonrestrictive modifiers
which sentence correctly uses commas to separate a nonrestrictive modifier?
the man, who owned the floral shop, watered the shops hanging plants.
the young child-who is my nephew- is the cutest three-year-old ever!
my friend john, who owns a chocolate lab puppy, is getting ready to leave for a trip.
the student, who aced the test, was excused from completing the homework assignment.

Explanation:

A nonrestrictive modifier adds extra, non-essential information to a sentence and is set off by commas (not em dashes here, as the question specifies commas). It can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence.

1. First option: "who owned the floral shop" is restrictive here—without it, we don't know which man is being referred to, so commas are incorrect.
2. Second option: It uses em dashes instead of commas, which does not match the question's requirement of using commas.
3. Third option: "John" already identifies the specific friend, so "who owns a chocolate Lab puppy" is extra, non-essential information correctly set off by commas. Removing it leaves the core meaning intact: "My friend John is getting ready to leave for a trip."
4. Fourth option: "who aced the test" is restrictive—without it, we don't know which student is being discussed, so commas are incorrect.

Answer:

C. My friend John, who owns a chocolate Lab puppy, is getting ready to leave for a trip.