Relative Clauses - Practice
If you do not know about the grammar of relative clauses, please read it here.
Review
A relative clause is used to give additional information on something or someonone already mentioned in the sentence.
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They start with a relative pronoun (who, where, when, which, that, whose) and, on their own, do not make sense.
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Examples:
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That song, which was written years ago, is amazing.
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My uncle, who lives in Thailand, is coming to stay.
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I like paintings which have lots of colour.
British History
Example
Henry VIII
Facts about Henry VIII
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reigned between 1491 - 1547
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lived at Hampton Court
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started the Church of England
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had six wives
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father was Henry VII
Start with a simple sentence about Henry VIII:
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Henry VIII lived at Hampton Court.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Henry VIII, whose father was Henry VII, lived at Hampton Court.
Start with a simple sentence about Henry VIII:
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Henry VIII had six wives.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Henry VIII, who started the Church of England, had six wives.
Start with a simple sentence about Henry VIII:
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Henry VIII started the Church of England.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Henry VIII, who lived at Hampton Court, started the Church of England
NOTE: All these relative clauses are in the middle of the sentence because they are next to the something (Henry VIII) we are adding information to.
Start with a simple sentence:
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The Church of England was started by Henry VIII.
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*this is a passive sentence
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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The Church of England was started by Henry VIII who reigned between 1491 and 1547.
NOTE: This relative clause is at the end of the sentence because it adds extra information about something (Henry VIII) and he is the object at the end of the sentence.
NOTE: The relative pronoun used in the examples is often 'who' because Henry VIII is a person.
Practice
The Great Fire of London
Facts about The Great Fire of London
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was in 1666
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started in Pudding Lane
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started at a bakery
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finished at Pie Corner
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lasted five days
Start with a simple sentence about The Great Fire of London.
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The Great Fire of London started at a bakery.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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The Great Fire of London, which was in 1666, started at a bakery.
Start with a simple sentence about The Great Fire of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Answer - finished
The Great Fire of London finished at Pie Corner.
Answer - lasted
The Great Fire of London, which lasted for five days, finished at Pie Corner.
Start with a simple sentence about The Great Fire of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Answer - was
The Great Fire of London was in 1666.
Answer - started (Pudding Lane)
The Great Fire of London, which started in Pudding Lane, was in 1666.
Start with a simple sentence about The Great Fire of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Answer - started (bakery)
The Great Fire of London started in a bakery.
Answer - lasted
The Great Fire of London, which lasted for five days, started in a bakery.
The Tower of London
Facts about The Tower of London
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built by William the Conqueror
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Anne Boleyn was executed there
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houses the Crown Jewels
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was a prison
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two princes were murdered
Start with a simple sentence about The Tower of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Answer - built *in the passive
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror.
Answer - Anne Boleyn
The Tower of London, where Anne Boleyn was executed, was built by William the Conqueror.
Start with a simple sentence about The Tower of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Answer - built *active sentence
William the Conqueror built the Tower of London.
Answer - Anne Boleyn
William the Conqueror built the Tower of London, where Anne Boleyn was was executed.
Start with a simple sentence about The Tower of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Answer - houses
The Tower of London houses the Crown Jewels.
Answer - prison
The Tower of London, which was a prison, houses the Crown Jewels.
Answer - built *in the passive
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror.
Answer - houses
The Tower of London, which houses the Crown Jewels, was built by William the Conqueror.
Start with a simple sentence about The Tower of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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Answer - princes *active
Two princes were murdered in the Tower of London.
Answer - Anne Boleyn
Two princes were murdered in the Tower of London, where Anne Boleyn was executed.
Start with a simple sentence about The Tower of London.
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Add another fact using a relative clause.
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