English Language Arts
Grade 11
15 min
Combine sentences using relative clauses
Combine sentences using relative clauses
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify relative clauses and their antecedents within complex sentences.
Differentiate between restrictive (essential) and non-restrictive (non-essential) relative clauses.
Select the appropriate relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) based on its grammatical function and antecedent.
Combine two or more simple sentences into a single, more sophisticated complex sentence using a relative clause.
Correctly punctuate sentences containing non-restrictive relative clauses using commas.
Analyze how the use of relative clauses enhances clarity, conciseness, and stylistic flow in analytical and synthesis essays.
Ever feel like your writing is a series of short, choppy sentences? ✍️ What if one simple tool could transform them into fluid, sophisticated...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Relative Clause (or Adjective Clause)A type of dependent clause that functions like an adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun and is introduced by a relative pronoun or relative adverb.In *The Great Gatsby*, Jay Gatsby is a character **who embodies the American Dream's corruption**.
Relative PronounA pronoun that introduces a relative clause and connects it to the word it modifies (the antecedent). The main relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, and that.The novel, **which** was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, explores themes of wealth and class.
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that a relative clause modifies.Hester Prynne, **who** is the protagonist of *The Scarlet Letter*, demonstrates remarkable resilience. (The antecedent of 'who' is '...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Comma Rule for Non-Restrictive Clauses
Non-Restrictive Clause = Use Commas. Restrictive Clause = No Commas.
If the information in the relative clause is extra, non-essential detail about a noun that is already clearly identified, enclose the clause in commas. If the clause is necessary to pinpoint which specific noun you're talking about, do not use commas.
Pronoun Selection: People vs. Things
Use 'who' (subject), 'whom' (object), and 'whose' (possessive) for people. Use 'which' for things. Use 'that' for either people or things, but typically only in restrictive clauses.
Choosing the correct pronoun is critical for grammatical accuracy. 'Who' performs an action (e.g., 'the author who wrote...')....
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Challenging
You are writing an AP-style analysis of a character's hypocrisy. Which sentence combination most powerfully establishes this theme using a relative clause?
1. Reverend Parris preaches about piety and self-denial.
2. He is obsessed with his own reputation and wealth.
A.Reverend Parris, who preaches about piety and self-denial, is obsessed with his own reputation and wealth.
B.Reverend Parris preaches about piety and self-denial, but he is obsessed with his own reputation and wealth.
C.Reverend Parris is obsessed with his own reputation and wealth, which is contrary to his preaching about piety and self-denial.
D.Reverend Parris, whose sermons focus on piety and self-denial, is ironically obsessed with his own reputation and wealth.
Challenging
A literary critic writes: "The very society that purports to be a 'city upon a hill' is the one that succumbs to the hysteria it claims to guard against." How does the critic's use of the restrictive clause 'that purports to be a 'city upon a hill'' contribute to the argument's persuasive power?
A.It provides non-essential background information about the society.
B.It creates a logical fallacy by misrepresenting the society's goals.
C.It establishes a specific, ironic identity for the society, making its subsequent failure more impactful.
D.It slows the pacing of the sentence to allow the reader to absorb the complex vocabulary.
Challenging
Which revision of the underlined sentence uses a relative clause to create the most concise and sophisticated connection between ideas in the paragraph?
Paragraph: The American Dream is a central theme in the novel. Many characters pursue this dream.
<u>Their pursuit is often corrupted by materialism.</u>
A.The American Dream, which many characters pursue, is a central theme in the novel, and their pursuit is often corrupted by materialism.
B.The American Dream is a central theme in the novel, where many characters pursue a dream that is often corrupted by materialism.
C.central theme in the novel is the American Dream, a goal whose pursuit by many characters is often corrupted by materialism.
D.central theme in the novel is the American Dream, which many characters pursue in a way that is often corrupted by materialism.
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