Relative Clauses (DD.5)

Relative Clauses

By Anne Allen

Relative Clauses

A relative clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adjective. It provides information about the noun or pronoun it follows.

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The woman who lives next door grows tomatoes in her garden.

The relative clause provides information about the noun woman.

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Relative Pronouns

A relative clause usually begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, or that).

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence with the best relative pronoun:

Marissa Mayer, ____ term at Google influenced many of the company's popular products, including Google Maps and Gmail, was appointed CEO of Yahoo in 2012.

• whose

• who

• whom

• which

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence with the best relative pronoun:

Crop rotation, _____ dates back to nearly 6000 BCE, can replenish soil nutrients and reduce the need for pest control.

• that

• whom

• which

• whose

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence with the best relative pronoun:

A fossil _____ archaeologists uncovered in Germany provides evidence that birds were capable of spreading pollen to plants at least forty-seven million years ago.

• that

• whom

• which

• whose

Multiple Choice

Identify the relative clause in this sentence:

Astronomers are aware of hundreds of objects in our solar system that may one day be classified as dwarf planets.

• Astronomers are aware of hundreds of objects

• in our solar system

• that may one day be classified as dwarf planets

Multiple Choice

Identify the relative clause in this sentence:

The first college freshman to win the Heisman Trophy was Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, whom the committee selected in 2012.

• The first college freshman to win the Heisman Trophy

• Trophy was Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manzie

• whom the committee selected in 2012.

Multiple Choice

Identify the relative clause in this sentence:

Anne Frank, who wrote about her life in hiding, was just fifteen years old when she and her family were discovered and sent to concentration camps.

• Anne Frank

• who wrote about her life in hiding

• was just fifteen years old

• when she and her family were discovered

Combining Sentences

You can use a relative clause to combine sentences.

I just read Janet's new book. Her book came out last month.

Both sentences provide information about Janet's new book. So, you can combine the sentences using a relative clause.

I just read Janet's new book, which came out last month.

*The relative clause provides information about the noun book.*