Relative Clauses

Practice 1

Combine the sentences using relative clauses. Note that all relative clauses are non-defining.

1. Samuel Johnson was the son of a bookseller. Samuel Johnson was born in 1709.

Samuel Johnson………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. In 1728, he went to Oxford. He studied at Pembroke College in Oxford.

In 1728, he went………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Johnson had to leave Oxford without a degree. He was too poor to pay the fees.

Johnson………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. In 1737, Johnson moved to London. There he wrote poetry, essays and biographies.

In 1737, Johnson………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. In 1746, Johnson started to write his dictionary. It took him nine years to complete.

In 1746, Johnson started………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. His home at that time was in 17 Gough Square in London. It is a museum now.

17 Gough Square in London………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. In this house, his wife died in 1752. Her name was Elizabeth Porter.

In this house his wife………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. In 1755, the work was published. It was called A Dictionary of the English Language.

In 1755, the work………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. Samuel Johnson died in 1784. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Samuel Johnson………………………………………………………………………………………..

Practice 2:

Combine the sentences with relative clauses. (Decide whether to use commas or not.)

1. A monk is a man. The man has devoted his life to God.
   A monk
2. I have one black cat. His name is Blacky.
   I have
3. A herbivore is an animal. The animal feeds upon vegetation.
   A herbivore
4. Carol plays the piano brilliantly. She is only 9 years old.
   Carol
5. Sydney is the largest Australian city. It is not the capital of Australia.
   Sydney

Combine the sentences with contact clauses.

1. We ordered a book. It was very expensive.
2. You are sitting on a bench. The paint on the bench is still wet
3. The photographer could not develop the pictures. I had taken them in Australia
4. One of the bins smells awful. You haven’t emptied the bin for 3 week
5. They are singing a song. I don’t know the song.

Combine the sentences with relative clauses or contact clauses. Use contact clauses where possible. (Decide whether to use commas or not.)

1. The city seems to be abandoned. It is usually crowded with people.
2. You made an offer. We cannot accept it.
   We
3. A midwife is a woman. She assists other women in childbirth.
   A woman
4. Three youngsters were arrested by the police. They had committed criminal offences.
   The police
5. The World Wide Web has become an essential part of our lives. It was invented by Tim Berners-Lee.
   Tim Berners-Lee

Answer:

Practice 1:

1. Samuel Johnson was the son of a bookseller. Samuel Johnson was born in 1709.
   Samuel Johnson , who was born in 1709, was the son of a bookseller.
2. In 1728, he went to Oxford. He studied at Pembroke College in Oxford.
   In 1728, he went to Oxford, where he studied at Pembroke College.
3. Johnson had to leave Oxford without a degree. He was too poor to pay the fees.
   Johnson , who was too poor to pay the fees, had to leave Oxford without a degree.
4. In 1737, Johnson moved to London. There he wrote poetry, essays and biographies.
   In 1737, Johnson moved to London, where he wrote poetry, essays and biographies.
5. In 1746, Johnson started to write his dictionary. It took him nine years to complete.
   In 1746, Johnson started to write his dictionary, which took him nine years to complete.
6. His home at that time was in 17 Gough Square in London. It is a museum now.
   17 Gough Square in London , which is a museum now, was his home at that time.
7. In this house, his wife died in 1752. Her name was Elizabeth Porter.
   In this house his wife , whose name was Elizabeth Porter, died in 1752.
8. In 1755, the work was published. It was called A Dictionary of the English Language.
   In 1755, the work , which was called A Dictionary of the English Language, was published.
9. Samuel Johnson died in 1784. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
   Samuel Johnson , who died in 1784, is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Practice 2:

Combine the sentences with relative clauses. (Decide whether to use commas or not.)

1. A monk is a man. The man has devoted his life to God.
   A monk is a man who has devoted his life to God.
2. I have one black cat. His name is Blacky.
   I have one black cat, whose name is Blacky.
3. A herbivore is an animal. The animal feeds upon vegetation.
   A herbivore is an animal that feeds upon vegetation.
4. Carol plays the piano brilliantly. She is only 9 years old.
   Carol , who is only 9 years old, plays the piano brilliantly.
5. Sydney is the largest Australian city. It is not the capital of Australia.
   Sydney , which is not the capital of Australia, is the largest Australian city.

Combine the sentences with contact clauses.

1. We ordered a book. It was very expensive.
   The book we ordered was very expensive.
2. You are sitting on a bench. The paint on the bench is still wet.
   The paint on the bench you are sitting on is still wet.
3. The photographer could not develop the pictures. I had taken them in Australia.
   The photographer could not develop the pictures I had taken in Australia.
4. One of the bins smells awful. You haven’t emptied the bin for 3 weeks.
   The bin you haven’t emptied for 3 weeks smells awful.
5. They are singing a song. I don’t know the song.
   They are singing a song I don’t know.

Combine the sentences with relative clauses or contact clauses. Use contact clauses where possible. (Decide whether to use commas or not.)

1. The city seems to be abandoned. It is usually crowded with people.
   The city, which is usually crowded with people, seems to be abandoned.
2. You made an offer. We cannot accept it.
   We cannot accept the offer you made.
3. A midwife is a woman. She assists other women in childbirth.
   A woman who assists other women in childbirth is a midwife.
4. Three youngsters were arrested by the police. They had committed criminal offences.
   The police arrested three youngsters who had committed criminal offences.
5. The World Wide Web has become an essential part of our lives. It was invented by Tim Berners-Lee.
   Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, which has become an essential part of our lives.