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.*

Fill in the Blanks

Read the sentences:

George Herman "Babe" Ruth was born to a poor family in Baltimore in 1895. He went on to become a record-breaking baseball player.

Now combine the sentences by completing the relative clause:

George Herman "Babe" Ruth, who

, was born to a poor family in Baltimore in 1895.

Fill in the Blanks

Read the sentences:

Professional wrestler André the Giant suffered from acromegaly, or gigantism. Acromegaly causes the body to produce unusually high amounts of growth hormones.

Now combine the sentences by completing the relative clause:

Professional wrestler André the Giant suffered from acromegaly, or gigantism, which

.

Fill in the Blanks

Read the sentences:

When Lewis and Clark set off on their expedition in 1804, they were searching for a Northwest Passage. The route would connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Now combine the sentences by completing the relative clause:

When Lewis and Clark set off on their expedition in 1804, they were searching for a Northwest Passage—a route that

Fill in the Blanks

Read the sentences:

Ray Charles' childhood was spent surrounded by country, blues, jazz, and gospel music. He was one of the originators of soul music.

Now combine the sentences by completing the relative clause:

Ray Charles, whose

, was one of the originators of soul music.