For example, the following will work as expected, adding the class to the clone and not the original:
$('.myClass').clone().addClass('.myOtherClass');
The following, however, will NOT work:
$('.myClass').clone().wrap("<div class='container'></div>"');
As a result, the clone will remain unchanged. If you want to use wrap, and other functions with this limitations, you'll need to place it somewhere in the DOM first, and then manipulate it.