A new sentence structure: the relative complex sentence | English

Starter quiz

Which of these are true for a subordinate clause?
- It contains a verb. ✓
- It makes complete sense on its own.
- It needs to be joined to a main clause to make complete sense. ✓
- It does not contain a verb.
What are two relative pronouns that can start a relative clause?
- while
- when
- who ✓
- which ✓
In the sentence 'The bicycle, which had a red frame, belonged to my little sister', what is the relative clause?
- The bicycle
- The bicycle belonged to my sister
- which had a red frame ✓
- belonged to my sister
In the sentence 'Wales, which is a part of the UK, is a beautiful country', what noun does the relative clause tell us more about?
- Wales ✓
- the UK
- country
Match the noun phrases to the relative clauses they could link to.
- the house
  
  ⇔
  
  , which was made of wood, ✓
- my cousin
  
  ⇔
  
  , who is only two years old, ✓
- the farm
  
  ⇔
  
  , which produces wheat, ✓
- our teacher
  
  ⇔
  
  , who is very talented, ✓
Which of the following sentences contain a relative clause?
- The house, which was made of wood, sat on a steep hill. ✓
- Because the house was made of wood, it burned down.
- My cousin, who is only two years old, goes to nursery every day. ✓
- When my cousin was two, she went to nursery every day.

Which sentence contains a relative clause?
- Andeep, a wonderful cricketer, hit the ball for six.
- Andeep, a talented child, hit the ball for six.
- Andeep, who was a wonderful cricketer, hit the ball for six. ✓
Which relative clause could fill this gap? The mountain, ___________, was 3,000m high.
- who was very rocky and steep
- which was 3,000m high
- which was very rocky and steep ✓
- who was 3,000m high
Match the relative clause to the sentence it completes.
- , who worked hard,
  
  ⇔
  
  Lucas, __________, did his best in the test. ✓
- , which was very small,
  
  ⇔
  
  The playground, __________, was always crowded. ✓
- , which had a bad coach,
  
  ⇔
  
  The football team, __________, let in seven goals. ✓
In the sentence 'Alex won the competition easily', after which word would you place the relative clause 'who danced every day'?
- Alex ✓
- won
- competition
- easily
Which of these are true for a relative complex sentence?
- It contains a relative clause. ✓
- It contains a relative pronoun. ✓
- It contains a main clause. ✓
- It contains an adverbial clause.
To combine the two sentences 'Izzy was working hard in Maths.' and 'She was determined to do well', which sentence would be formed?
- Izzy, which was determined to do well, was working hard.
- Izzy was working hard in Maths, which was determined to do well.
- Izzy, who was determined to do well, was working hard in Maths. ✓

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The relative clause is a type of subordinate clause, which must join to a main clause to make complete sense.
The relative clause adds extra, relevant information about a noun or noun phrase within a main clause.
A relative clause often interrupts the main clause.
A relative clause joined with a main clause forms the relative complex sentence.

Children may be unsure which noun or noun phrase the relative clause should be placed after.

The relative clause is placed after whichever noun or noun phrase it provides extra, relevant information about.

Relative clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun
Main clause - a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense
Relevant - closely related to
Interrupt - force to stop or break
Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause