Websink Prep UKKS2 EnglishYear 5 chaptersEnglish textbooksReceptionYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6Year 7Year 8Year 9Browse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Primary English · Year 5Chapter 4 · Relative clauses and adverbials of time, place and cause
Year 5 · Chapter 4

Relative clauses and adverbials of time, place and cause

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Choose the right relative pronoun for a person, a thing, a place or a time
  • Add information about a noun with a relative clause
  • Leave out a relative pronoun when the sentence still makes sense
  • Use adverbials to say when, where and why something happens
  • Tell a main clause from a subordinate clause, and join them

You should already know

  • Sentences, clauses and conjunctions (Year 4, Chapter 6)
  • Prepositions and adverbs (Year 4, Chapter 6)

Where this leads

  • Modal verbs and the perfect form (Chapter 5 of this book)

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 English, Year 5. Content: Use relative clauses beginning with who, which, that, whose, where and when (G5-1, TM-Y5a), Leave out the relative pronoun when it is the object of the clause (G5-1), Express time, place and cause with conjunctions, adverbs and prepositions (G5-7), Write sentences with more than one clause, and identify main and subordinate clauses (WV1, TM1, TM3).

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich word joins two clauses to show a reason: and, because or under?
2
FWrite the noun in this sentence: The brave dog ran home.
3
FWhich word is a preposition in The cat sat under the table?
4
FWrite a sentence with the verb play in it.
5
FWrite the word that means a person who lives next door to you.
4.1

Relative pronouns: who, which and that

Year 5
Use relative clauses beginning with who, which and that (G5-1, TM-Y5a)
Video lesson: Relative pronouns: who, which and thatComing soon
Story. Maya is writing about her street. She wants to tell the reader about the people and things on it. She writes, The woman who sells bread lives on the corner. Her sentence has two parts joined by the word who.

Key pattern

A relative clause gives extra information about a noun. It begins with a relative pronoun.

who is used for people: the girl who sang.

which is used for things: the kite which flew.

that can be used for people or things: the bag that I packed.

Key ideas

  • A relative clause adds information about the noun before it.
  • who is for people, which is for things, and that can be used for either.
  • A relative clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.
  • The relative pronoun is the word that joins the clause to the noun.
Worked example 4.1.1
Find the relative clause in The girl who sang the song lives next door.

Method. Find the word that joins the clause to the noun.

  1. Find the noun. The noun is girl.
    girl
  2. Find the relative pronoun. Who joins the extra information to girl.
    who
  3. Find the whole clause. The clause is who and the words that follow it.
    who sang the song
  4. Write the answer.
    who sang the song

Check. The relative clause is who sang the song. ✓

Worked example 4.1.2
Which relative pronoun is used for the noun kite: who or which?

Method. Kite is a thing, not a person.

  1. Decide if the noun is a person. A kite is a thing.
    thing
  2. Choose the pronoun. Which is used for things.
    which
  3. Write the answer.
    which

Check. The kite which flew high. ✓

Worked example 4.1.3
Write the relative pronoun in The river that runs past the school is wide.

Method. Look for the word that joins the clause to river.

  1. Find the noun. The noun is river.
    river
  2. Find the pronoun. That joins runs past the school to river.
    that
  3. Write the answer.
    that

Check. That is the relative pronoun. ✓

Exercise 4A  Practice: who, which and that

1
FWrite the relative clause in The boy who found the key was pleased.
2
FChoose who or which: The farmer ____ keeps the hens woke early.
3
FChoose who or which: The kite ____ Maya made flew high.
4
FWrite the relative pronoun in The shoes that I bought are blue.
5
FWrite the relative clause in The cat that sleeps by the fire is grey.
6
FWhich relative pronoun is used for people: who or which?
7
FWrite the relative pronoun in The painting which hangs in the hall is old.
8
PSFind the noun that the relative clause in The shop that sells maps is closed describes.
9
PSJoin these two sentences with who: The man has a red van. He lives next door.
10
PSJoin these two sentences with which: The book was on the table. It was mine.
11
RAli says who can be used for a dog in a sentence. Is he right? Explain.
4.2

Relative clauses with whose, where and when

Year 5
Use relative clauses beginning with whose, where and when (G5-1)
Video lesson: Relative clauses with whose, where and whenComing soon
Story. Omar is writing a travel diary about a trip to a farm. He describes the day when the lambs were born, the barn where the hens slept, and the farmer whose dog came to meet them at the gate.

Key pattern

whose shows that something belongs to the noun: the girl whose bike is red.

where is used for a place: the park where we played.

when is used for a time: the day when the sun shone.

Key ideas

  • whose shows ownership: whose coat, whose kite.
  • where introduces a place: the shop where we bought bread.
  • when introduces a time: the week when the snow fell.
  • Read the sentence aloud in your head to check the clause makes sense.
Worked example 4.2.1
Find the relative clause in The boy whose coat was torn waited by the gate.

Method. Look for whose and the words after it.

  1. Find the pronoun. Whose shows that the coat belongs to the boy.
    whose
  2. Write the clause. The clause is whose coat was torn.
    whose coat was torn
  3. Write the answer.
    whose coat was torn

Check. Whose coat was torn. ✓

Worked example 4.2.2
Choose where or when: The day ____ we visited the farm was sunny.

Method. The noun day is a time.

  1. Check the noun. Day is a time.
    time
  2. Choose the word. When is used for a time.
    when
  3. Write the answer.
    when

Check. The day when we visited the farm was sunny. ✓

Worked example 4.2.3
Choose where or when: The café ____ we ate lunch has new chairs.

Method. The noun café is a place.

  1. Check the noun. Café is a place.
    place
  2. Choose the word. Where is used for a place.
    where
  3. Write the answer.
    where

Check. The café where we ate lunch. ✓

Exercise 4B  Practice: whose, where and when

1
FWrite the relative pronoun in The girl whose bike is red rides to school.
2
FWrite the relative clause in The park where we played is closed.
3
FChoose where or when: The farm ____ the hens live is near the river.
4
FChoose where or when: Spring is the time ____ the lambs are born.
5
FWrite the relative clause in Winter is the season when the days are short.
6
FWhich relative pronoun shows that the coat belongs to the boy: whose or where?
7
PSChoose whose, where or when: This is the village ____ my grandmother grew up.
8
PSChoose whose, where or when: That is the author ____ books I like best.
9
PSCombine these sentences using whose: The girl is my cousin. Her kite flew over the hill.
10
PSCombine these sentences using where: The library is big. We borrow books there.
11
RWrite a sentence with a relative clause that begins with when, about a season.
12
RExplain why whose is used in The author whose book I read is famous.
4.3

Leaving out the relative pronoun

Year 5
Leave out the relative pronoun when it is the object of the clause (G5-1)
Video lesson: Leaving out the relative pronounComing soon
Story. Leah is writing a list of her favourite books. She writes, The book I read last night was funny. Her friend says the word that could go after book. Leah checks: it can, but it is not needed.

Key pattern

A relative pronoun can be left out when it is the object of the verb in the clause: The book (that) I read.

It cannot be left out when it is the subject of the verb: The girl who waved is my friend. Who waved is the subject.

Key ideas

  • Leave out the pronoun when it is the object (I read the book).
  • Keep the pronoun when it is the subject (who waved).
  • Test by reading the sentence without the pronoun: does it still make sense?
  • Some people call this the omitted or dropped relative pronoun.
Worked example 4.3.1
Can the word that be left out of The toy that I found was broken? Write the new sentence.

Method. Check whether that is the subject or the object of found.

  1. Find the verb in the clause. The verb is found.
    found
  2. Check the subject and object. I is the subject; that is the object of found.
    object
  3. Remove the pronoun. The toy I found was broken still makes sense.
    The toy I found was broken.
  4. Write the answer.
    The toy I found was broken.

Check. The sentence still makes sense. ✓

Worked example 4.3.2
Can the word who be left out of The girl who waved is my friend? Write Yes or No.

Method. Check whether who is the subject of waved.

  1. Find the verb. The verb is waved.
    waved
  2. Check the subject. Who is the one doing the waving, so it is the subject.
    subject
  3. Write the answer.
    No

Check. It cannot be left out. ✓

Worked example 4.3.3
Which sentence can leave out its relative pronoun: The bag which I packed or The bag which is blue?

Method. Check which one has an object pronoun.

  1. Look at the first clause. In which I packed, I is the subject and which is the object.
    object
  2. Look at the second clause. In which is blue, which is the subject.
    subject
  3. Write the answer.
    the bag which I packed

Check. Only the first can leave out which. ✓

Exercise 4C  Practice: when the pronoun can be left out

1
FWrite the sentence without the relative pronoun: The song that I like best is on this album.
2
FWrite the sentence without the relative pronoun: The apple that Sam picked was red.
3
FWhich relative pronoun can be left out: The shop which we visited or The shop which sells maps?
4
FCan who be left out of The man who lives here is kind? Write Yes or No.
5
FCan that be left out of The dog that barked at the postman is brown? Write Yes or No.
6
FWrite the sentence without the relative pronoun: The jumper that Mum knitted is warm.
7
PSWrite the relative clause in The toy that I found was broken with the pronoun left out.
8
PSWhich is the subject in The boy who ran was fast: boy or who?
9
PSWhich relative pronoun is the object in The cake which Ella baked was sweet?
10
RWrite a sentence with a relative clause in which the relative pronoun can be left out.
11
RExplain why you cannot leave out who from Anyone who wants a turn can join in.
4.4

Adverbials of time, place and cause

Year 5
Express time, place and cause with conjunctions, adverbs and prepositions (G5-7)
Video lesson: Adverbials of time, place and causeComing soon
Story. The class is planning a trip to the museum. The teacher says, We will leave at nine o'clock because the bus is early, and we will wait under the big clock until everyone is ready. The words that say when, where and why are adverbials.

Key pattern

An adverbial tells us when, where or why something happens.

Time: after the lunch, later, yesterday, when the bell rang.

Place: under the tree, here, near the gate.

Cause: because of the rain, since it was late, as a result, so.

Key ideas

  • Conjunctions join two clauses: because, since, when, while, until.
  • Adverbs describe a verb and can stand alone: later, here, yesterday.
  • Prepositions are followed by a noun phrase: under the tree, during the play.
  • A cause adverbial can be a prepositional phrase, such as because of the rain.
Worked example 4.4.1
Write the adverbial of time in After lunch, we went to the library.

Method. Look for the word or phrase that tells us when.

  1. Find the time. After lunch tells us when we went.
    When?
  2. Write it. The adverbial is After lunch.
    After lunch
  3. Write the answer.
    After lunch

Check. After lunch. ✓

Worked example 4.4.2
Write the adverbial of place in We sat under the oak tree.

Method. Find the phrase that tells us where.

  1. Find the place. Under the oak tree tells us where we sat.
    Where?
  2. Write it. The place adverbial is under the oak tree.
    under the oak tree
  3. Write the answer.
    under the oak tree

Check. Under the oak tree. ✓

Worked example 4.4.3
Write the cause in The match was cancelled because of the rain.

Method. Find the phrase that tells us why.

  1. Find the reason. The rain is the reason the match was cancelled.
    Why?
  2. Write it. The cause is because of the rain.
    because of the rain
  3. Write the answer.
    because of the rain

Check. Because of the rain. ✓

Exercise 4D  Practice: time, place and cause

1
FWhich word is a time adverbial: later, under or because?
2
FWhich word is an adverb of place: here, yesterday or quickly?
3
FWhich phrase is a time adverbial: during the play or in the box?
4
FWrite the cause in We stayed inside since it was raining.
5
FChoose the conjunction that shows cause: since, after or under?
6
FWhich word joins a time clause: when, where or because?
7
PSWrite the missing conjunction: We wore boots ____ the path was muddy.
8
PSWrite the missing preposition that shows time: We walked home ____ the storm.
9
PSWhich phrase shows cause: as a result, under the table or every morning?
10
PSWrite a sentence that begins with a time adverbial.
11
RAli says because and so both give a reason. Is he right? Explain.
12
RWrite one sentence with an adverbial of cause and one with an adverbial of place.
4.5

Main and subordinate clauses

Year 5
Write sentences with more than one clause, and identify main and subordinate clauses (WV1, TM1, TM3)
Video lesson: Main and subordinate clausesComing soon
Story. Ruby is making a sentence for her diary: When the sun came out, we ran to the beach. She says the sentence has two clauses. She cannot tell which part is a sentence on its own, so she checks each part.

Key pattern

A main clause makes sense on its own: we ran to the beach.

A subordinate clause does not make sense on its own: when the sun came out.

A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when, because or if, or with a relative pronoun such as who or which.

Key ideas

  • A main clause can stand alone as a sentence.
  • A subordinate clause depends on the main clause.
  • Most subordinate clauses begin with a conjunction or a relative pronoun.
  • A sentence can have more than one clause; check each one separately.
Worked example 4.5.1
Which is the main clause in Although it was cold, Ali went swimming.

Method. Find the part that makes sense alone.

  1. Check each part. Although it was cold does not make sense alone.
    subordinate
  2. Find the main clause. Ali went swimming makes sense alone.
    main
  3. Write the answer.
    Ali went swimming

Check. Ali went swimming. ✓

Worked example 4.5.2
Which conjunction begins the subordinate clause in We stayed inside because it was raining.

Method. Look for the word that begins the second part.

  1. Find the second part. Because it was raining begins the second part.
    because
  2. Check the meaning. Because joins the reason to the main clause.
    because
  3. Write the answer.
    because

Check. Because. ✓

Worked example 4.5.3
How many clauses are in When the sun set, the birds went to sleep.?

Method. Count the verbs and check each part.

  1. Find the verbs. The verbs are set and went.
    set, went
  2. Count the clauses. When the sun set is one clause; the birds went to sleep is another.
    2 clauses
  3. Write the answer.
    2

Check. Two clauses. ✓

Exercise 4E  Practice: main and subordinate clauses

1
FWhich part of We stayed inside because it was raining is the main clause?
2
FIdentify the subordinate clause in We waited until the bus came.
3
FHow many main clauses are in The cat slept, and the dog ran.?
4
FIs which we saw a sentence on its own: Yes or No?
5
FHow many clauses are in After the rain stopped, we walked to the park.?
6
PSWhich part of Although the sun was hot, we kept our coats on is the subordinate clause?
7
PSWhich part of The girl who won the race smiled is the relative clause?
8
PSWrite the conjunction that joins the main clause to the subordinate clause in I will call you if I am late.
9
PSJoin the two clauses We went to the park and the sun was shining with a conjunction of time.
10
RWrite a sentence with a main clause and a subordinate clause that begins with because.
11
RExplain why because it was late is not a sentence on its own.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
who, which, thatRelative pronouns that join a clause to a noun: who for people, which for things, that for either.
whose, where, whenwhose shows ownership, where shows a place, when shows a time.
Leaving out the pronounIt can be left out when it is the object of the clause: the book I read.
AdverbialsTime (later), place (under the tree), cause (because of the rain, since).
Main and subordinate clausesA main clause stands alone; a subordinate clause depends on it.

Can you…?

  • I can use who, which and that to add information about a noun
  • I can use whose, where and when in relative clauses
  • I can leave out a relative pronoun when it is the object
  • I can choose adverbials of time, place and cause
  • I can tell a main clause from a subordinate clause

Key terms

relative clause
a clause that gives more information about a noun, starting with who, which, that, whose, where or when
relative pronoun
a word such as who, which or that that joins a relative clause to a noun
adverbial
a word or phrase that tells when, where or why something happens
main clause
a clause that makes sense on its own
subordinate clause
a clause that does not make sense on its own and depends on a main clause
conjunction
a word that joins two clauses, such as because, when or until

Exercise 4Z  Check-up

1
Write the relative pronoun in The boy who found the key smiled.
2
Choose which or who: The bus ____ goes to the park is late.
3
Write the relative clause in The park where we played is closed.
4
Choose whose, where or when: Monday is the day ____ we go swimming.
5
Write the sentence without the relative pronoun: The apple that Sam picked was red.
6
Write the adverbial of cause in We cancelled the trip because of the storm.
7
Write the conjunction of time in Ella will wait until the bell rings.
8
How many clauses are in Because it rained, we stayed in.?
9
Which part of Although the rain fell, we played outside is the main clause?
10
Write one sentence with a relative clause that begins with whose.

Total 20 marks. Allow about 20 minutes.

Exercise 4X  Practice test questions

1
FWrite the relative pronoun in The river that runs past our school is wide.[1 mark]
2
PSWrite the sentence without the relative pronoun: The song that I like best is on this album.[2 marks]
3
FWrite the adverbial of time in Later on, we will paint the fence.[1 mark]
4
PSChoose where or when: The village ____ we stayed was quiet.[1 mark]
5
PSWrite the relative clause in The boy whose coat was torn waited by the gate.[2 marks]
6
PSWrite the subordinate clause in We stayed inside because it was raining.[2 marks]
7
PSHow many clauses are in When the bell rang, the children ran into the hall.?[2 marks]
8
RJoin The bag was heavy and I carried it home so that the second clause is a relative clause, using which.[3 marks]
9
RExplain why who cannot be left out of The girl who waved is my friend.[3 marks]
10
RExplain the difference between a main clause and a subordinate clause, using an example.[3 marks]
← Chapter 3: The Year 5-6 word list, silent letters and the dictionaryChapter 5: Modal verbs, possibility and the perfect form →

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings