RELATIVE CLAUSES. Joining sentences

I saw the shop. You had bought your camera there

Answer explanation

Defining. No commas.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A

She is the woman. Her discovery made an important impact on society.

Answer explanation

Remember!

Whenever you are referring to the owner or possessor of something, the correct relative pronoun to use is whose. It will be always followed by a noun in the resulting sentence.

This is a defining relative clause. Notice there are no commas.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.4.1A

Our television set is always making funny noises. It cost us a lot of money.

Answer explanation

Both sentences are correct.

This is a non-defining relative clause, which means that the information given in it is not essential. It's just extra information. Notice the commas.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

This is the team. They won the World Cup.

Answer explanation

Defining. That's why we can use both who and that.

The relative, though, cannot be omitted because it is the subject of the relative clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.4.1A

John did most of the work. He is very clever.

Answer explanation

Non-defining. Commas. We cannot change anything within the commas.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

I don’t know the reason. He acted so rudely.

Answer explanation

Defining. When the antecedent is the reason, the corresponding relative adverb is why.

You can even omit the antecedent and leave just why.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.4.1A

They are the musicians. I have always wanted to see them in concert

Answer explanation

Defining. No commas.

The relative pronoun can be omitted because the relative clause is not the subject (the subject is I ).

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.4.1A

I found the book. You lost it at Christmas.

Answer explanation

Defining. No commas.

Again, the relative pronoun can be omitted.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.4.1A

The final exams happened to be very easy. I feared them too much.

Answer explanation

Non-defining. Commas.

The relative pronoun can neither be replaced by that nor omitted. Nothing can be changed within the commas. They act as a barrier.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

I will always remember the day. I met Jennifer then.

Answer explanation

Defining. No commas.

The antecedent refers to time, so we need the relative adverb when.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B