English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
Combine sentences using relative clauses
Combine sentences using relative clauses
What you'll learn
- Identify relative clauses (who, whom, which, that, whose) within complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a written exercise.
- Combine two simple sentences into one complex sentence using a relative clause with appropriate punctuation and grammar, as demonstrated in 3 out of 4 examples.
- Rewrite 3 provided pairs of simple sentences into complex sentences using different relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose), correctly choosing the pronoun that fits the context of each sentence.
- Explain the function of a relative clause in a sentence, including how it adds detail and clarifies meaning, in a short paragraph with at least 3 accurate details.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define relative clauses and identify their key components.
Recognize and correctly use relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) and relative adverbs (where, when, why).
Combine two simple sentences into one complex sentence using a relative clause.
Differentiate between essential (restrictive) and non-essential (non-restrictive) relative clauses.
Apply correct punctuation (commas) for non-essential relative clauses.
Choose the appropriate relative pronoun based on the antecedent and its function within the clause.
Improve sentence variety and flow in their own writing by effectively incorporating relative clauses.
Ever read a story with choppy, short sentences? 🤖 What if you could make your writing smoother, more detailed, and more interesting...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
ClauseA group of words that contains both a subject and a verb.She sings. (Subject: She, Verb: sings)
Independent ClauseA clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought.The dog barked loudly.
Dependent ClauseA clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought; it relies on an independent clause.because it was hungry
Relative ClauseA type of dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun (or relative adverb) and modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause, providing more information about it.The student who won the award smiled.
Relative PronounWords (like who, whom, whose, which, that) that introduce a relative clause and refer back to a noun or pronoun (its anteced...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Relative Pronoun Selection
Use 'who' or 'whom' for people; 'which' for things; 'that' for both people and things (but 'that' cannot be used in non-essential clauses). 'Whose' shows possession for people or things.
Choosing the correct relative pronoun is crucial for grammatical accuracy. 'Who' is for subjects, 'whom' for objects. 'Which' is often preferred for non-essential clauses about things, while 'that' is common for essential clauses about things.
Placement of the Relative Clause
Place the relative clause immediately after the noun or pronoun it modifies to ensure clarity and avoid confusion.
Misplacing a relative clause can lead to awkward sentences or change the meanin...
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Challenging
A student wrote the following paragraph: "My family went to the zoo. We saw the lions. The lions were sleeping. We also saw the monkeys. The monkeys were very playful." Which revision most effectively uses a relative clause to improve sentence variety and flow?
A.My family went to the zoo where we saw the lions, who were sleeping, and the monkeys, who were very playful.
B.My family went to the zoo. We saw the lions that were sleeping and the monkeys that were very playful.
C.When my family went to the zoo, we saw the sleeping lions and the monkeys, which were very playful.
D.My family went to the zoo, and we saw lions sleeping and monkeys playing.
Challenging
How can these three sentences be best combined into a single, clear sentence using a relative clause? "A storm is approaching. The storm has high winds. It was reported on the news."
A.storm, which was reported on the news, is approaching and has high winds.
B.storm that has high winds, which was reported on the news, is approaching.
C.storm, which has high winds and was reported on the news, is approaching.
D.storm is approaching that has high winds and was reported on the news.
Challenging
Consider the sentence: "The firefighters who battled the blaze all night received an award." Why is the relative clause "who battled the blaze all night" most likely an essential (restrictive) clause in this context?
A.Because it provides interesting, but unnecessary, extra information about the firefighters.
B.Because it is set off by commas, which always indicates an essential clause.
C.Because it specifies WHICH firefighters received the award, implying there were other firefighters who did not.
D.Because the relative pronoun 'who' can only be used in essential clauses.
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What grade level is "Combine sentences using relative clauses"?
Combine sentences using relative clauses is a Grade 7 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Combine sentences using relative clauses?
You'll be able to: Identify relative clauses (who, whom, which, that, whose) within complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a written exercise; Combine two simple sentences into one complex sentence using a relative clause with appropriate….
Is "Combine sentences using relative clauses" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Combine sentences using relative clauses?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.