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, whose, which, that) within complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a worksheet.
- Combine two simple sentences into one complex sentence using a relative clause, demonstrated through writing 3 out of 4 accurate examples.
- Rewrite five given pairs of sentences using relative clauses, choosing the most appropriate relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) for each pair, with 80% accuracy.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of different relative clauses in combining sentences, explaining in writing which combinations are most clear and concise, providing at least two justifications with relevant examples.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify relative clauses and their components (relative pronouns/adverbs, antecedents) in complex sentences.
Select the appropriate relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverb (where, when, why) to introduce a relative clause.
Combine two simple sentences into a single complex sentence using a relative clause.
Correctly punctuate restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses.
Improve sentence fluency and variety in writing by effectively using relative clauses.
Explain how relative clauses add detail and precision to descriptions.
Ever feel like your writing sounds choppy or repetitive? 🤖 What if there was a way to weave your ideas together more smoothly, like a master storyteller?
In this lesson, you'll discover how to...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Sentence CombiningThe process of joining two or more short, simple sentences into a single, longer sentence to improve flow and add detail.Original: 'The dog barked. The dog was brown.' Combined: 'The brown dog barked.' (or using a relative clause: 'The dog, which was brown, barked.')
Relative ClauseA type of dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why) and modifies a noun or pronoun (its antecedent).The student *who won the award* smiled. (The italicized part is the relative clause.)
Relative PronounA word that introduces a relative clause and refers back to a noun or pronoun (its antecedent) in the main clause. Common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose,...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Choose the Right Relative Word
Use 'who/whom/whose' for people. Use 'which' for things or animals (often with commas). Use 'that' for things or animals (usually without commas, for essential information). Use 'where' for places, 'when' for times, and 'why' for reasons.
The choice of relative pronoun or adverb depends on whether you're referring to a person, thing, place, time, or reason, and its grammatical role in the clause. 'Who' is for subjects, 'whom' for objects, 'whose' for possession.
Place the Relative Clause Correctly
A relative clause should be placed immediately after the noun or pronoun (its antecedent) it modifies to avoid confusion.
Misplacing a relative clause can l...
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Challenging
Which revision most effectively and precisely combines the following sentences? "The bridge collapsed. The bridge was built over a century ago. It was a famous landmark."
A.The bridge that collapsed was a famous landmark and it was built over a century ago.
B.The bridge, which was a famous landmark built over a century ago, collapsed.
C.The bridge collapsed, which was built over a century ago, and it was a famous landmark.
D.famous landmark, the bridge was built over a century ago and it collapsed.
Challenging
In which of the following sentences can the relative pronoun 'that' be correctly omitted without changing the meaning?
A.The key that opens the front door is on the hook.
B.The movie that we watched last night was very funny.
C.device that can translate languages is very useful.
D.The path that leads to the waterfall is steep.
Challenging
Read the short passage: "(1) The old house stood on a hill. (2) The house was rumored to be haunted. (3) It had been abandoned for fifty years." Which of the following is the best way to combine sentences (1) and (2) to improve the passage's flow?
A.The old house stood on a hill, and it was rumored to be haunted.
B.Standing on a hill, the old house was rumored to be haunted.
C.The old house, which was rumored to be haunted, stood on a hill.
D.The old house was rumored to be haunted that stood on a hill.
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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, whose, which, that) within complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a worksheet; Combine two simple sentences into one complex sentence using a relative clause, demonstrated through writing 3….
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.