Relative clauses and expanded noun phrases
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Choose who, which, that, where, when or whose to fit the noun it describes
- Copy a relative clause from a sentence, and say which noun it describes
- Leave out the relative pronoun where the sentence still makes sense
- Build an expanded noun phrase with an adjective, a phrase and a clause
- Join two short sentences into one, using a relative clause
You should already know
- Noun phrases, and the words that describe a noun (Year 4 grammar)
- Subordinate clauses, and conjunctions (Year 4 grammar, Chapter 6 of the Year 4 book)
Where this leads
- Modal verbs, the perfect form and the passive (Chapter 6 of this book)
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 English, Year 6. Content: Use relative clauses beginning with who, which or that to add information about a person or a thing (Y5-6 grammar), Use relative clauses beginning with where, when or whose, to add information about a place, a time or a possession (Y5-6 grammar), Use a relative clause with the relative pronoun left out, e.g. the book I read (Y5-6 grammar), Use expanded noun phrases that convey complicated information concisely, e.g. the old man who lived at the end of the lane (Y5-6 grammar), Join sentences with relative clauses, so that a text is concise and does not repeat words (Y5-6 grammar).
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. A noun phrase is a noun with the words that go with it.
- Find the noun. Tree is the noun.tree
- Add the words that go with it. The and tall come before tree.The tall tree
- Write the answer. The tall tree
Check. The tall tree is one noun phrase. ✓
Method. A pronoun stands in for a noun.
- Look for a word that replaces a noun. She replaces the name of a person.She
- Check the other words. The, book, brother are nouns or articles, not pronouns.She
- Write the answer. She
Check. She is a pronoun. ✓
Method. A conjunction joins two clauses.
- Find the joining word. Because joins the two clauses.because
- Check the rest. Stayed and rained are verbs.because
- Write the answer. because
Check. because joins two clauses. ✓
Method. The subject is the person or thing that does the action.
- Find the verb. Chased is the verb.chased
- Ask who chased. The dog chased, so the subject is the dog.The dog
- Write the answer. The dog
Check. The dog does the action. ✓
Method. An adjective describes a noun.
- Find the adjective. Old describes the house.old
- Find the noun it describes. The noun is house.house
- Write the answer. house
Check. old describes house. ✓
Relative clauses with who, which and that
A relative clause adds information about a noun. It begins with a relative pronoun. Use who for a person, and which or that for a thing.
The relative clause comes straight after the noun it describes, and it helps the reader to know which person or thing is meant.
Who, which and that
| Relative pronoun | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | a person | The teacher who helps everyone is kind. |
| that | a person or a thing | The bike that was parked outside is red. |
| which | a thing | The painting which hangs in the hall is old. |
Key ideas
- A relative clause adds information about a noun.
- Use who for people, and which or that for things.
- The relative clause comes straight after the noun it describes.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. She refers to the teacher, a person.The teacher
- Use who for a person. Who is the relative pronoun for a person.who helps everyone
- Join the sentences. The clause follows the noun.The teacher who helps everyone is kind.
- Write the answer. The teacher who helps everyone is kind.
Check. who describes the teacher, a person. ✓
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. It refers to the soup, a thing.The soup
- Use that for a thing. That is the relative pronoun for a thing.that Mum made
- Join the sentences. The clause follows the noun, and the main verb stays.The soup that Mum made was too hot.
- Write the answer. The soup that Mum made was too hot.
Check. that describes the soup, a thing. ✓
Method. The girl is a person, so the pronoun is who.
- Find the noun. Girl is a person.girl
- Choose the pronoun. For a person, use who.who
- Check the sentence. The girl who won the race is my cousin.who
- Write the answer. who
Check. who is used for a person. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: do not use which or that for a person. Use who for a person, even if the person is a child or a friend.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to describe a family member using a relative clause, starting with who. Then ask them to describe a favourite object with which or that.
Exercise 5A Practice: who, which and that
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The boy is my cousin. names the noun, and he lives in leeds. describes it.The boy
- Add the clause. The clause who lives in Leeds describes the noun, so it follows the noun.who lives in Leeds
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The boy who lives in Leeds is my cousin.
- Write the answer. The boy who lives in Leeds is my cousin.
Check. The relative clause who lives in Leeds follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The bike was stolen. names the noun, and it was parked outside the school. describes it.The bike
- Add the clause. The clause that was parked outside the school describes the noun, so it follows the noun.that was parked outside the school
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The bike that was parked outside the school was stolen.
- Write the answer. The bike that was parked outside the school was stolen.
Check. The relative clause that was parked outside the school follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The teacher is kind. names the noun, and she helps everyone. describes it.The teacher
- Add the clause. The clause who helps everyone describes the noun, so it follows the noun.who helps everyone
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The teacher who helps everyone is kind.
- Write the answer. The teacher who helps everyone is kind.
Check. The relative clause who helps everyone follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The mountain is high. names the noun, and snow covers its top. describes it.The mountain
- Add the clause. The clause that has snow on its top describes the noun, so it follows the noun.that has snow on its top
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The mountain that has snow on its top is high.
- Write the answer. The mountain that has snow on its top is high.
Check. The relative clause that has snow on its top follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. A dog barked. names the noun, and it belonged to the farmer. describes it.A dog barked.
- Add the clause. The clause that belonged to the farmer describes the noun, so it follows the noun.that belonged to the farmer
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.A dog that belonged to the farmer barked.
- Write the answer. A dog that belonged to the farmer barked.
Check. The relative clause that belonged to the farmer follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. The man is a person, so the relative pronoun is who.who fits
- Reject the other choices. Which is used for things, not for a person such as the man.which do not fit
- Write the answer. who
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. The chair is a thing, so the relative pronoun is that.that fits
- Reject the other choices. Who is used for people, not for a chair.who do not fit
- Write the answer. that
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Find the words that begin with the relative pronoun, and copy them.
- Find the relative pronoun. Who is the relative pronoun, and it begins the clause that describes the girl.who
- Copy the clause. The clause is the words from who to the end of the clause.who sings in the choir
- Write the answer. who sings in the choir
Check. who sings in the choir is the relative clause. ✓
Watch out. A relative clause tells you which person, thing, place or time is meant.
Method. Find the words that begin with the relative pronoun, and copy them.
- Find the relative pronoun. That is the relative pronoun, and it describes the car.that
- Copy the clause. The clause is the words from that to the end of the clause.that was parked by the gate
- Write the answer. that was parked by the gate
Check. that was parked by the gate is the relative clause. ✓
Watch out. A relative clause tells you which person, thing, place or time is meant.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the child who lost the ball.the child who lost the ball
- Find the main noun. The child is the person that the clause describes.child
- Write the answer. child
Check. child is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Choose a person, then add a clause that tells the reader more about them.
- Choose the person. The gardener is a person.The gardener
- Add the clause. Who looks after the park gives more about the gardener.who looks after the park
- Write the answer. The gardener who looks after the park planted the new trees.
Check. The sentence uses who for a person. ✓
Method. Choose a thing, then add a clause that tells the reader more about it.
- Choose the thing. The painting is a thing.The painting
- Add the clause. Which hangs in the hall gives more about the painting.which hangs in the hall
- Write the answer. The painting which hangs in the hall was painted in 1920.
Check. The sentence uses which for a thing. ✓
Method. Think about whether the noun is a person or a thing.
- Find the noun. The teacher is a person.a person
- Choose the pronoun. Who is used for people; which is used for things.who
- Write the answer. The teacher is a person, and who is used for people, while which is used for things
Check. who is used for a person. ✓
Method. Check whether the noun is a person or a thing.
- Find the noun. Shop is a thing, not a person.shop
- Check the pronoun. Which is used for things, so the sentence is correct.which
- Write the answer. Yes, because shop is a thing, and which is used for things.
Check. which is used for things, so the sentence is correct. ✓
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The painting is the noun, and the second sentence describes its frame.The painting
- Add the clause. The clause whose frame is gold describes the noun, so it follows the noun.whose frame is gold
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The painting whose frame is gold is old.
- Write the answer. The painting whose frame is gold is old.
Check. The relative clause whose frame is gold follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the relative pronoun, and the words that follow it.
- Find the pronoun. That is the relative pronoun.that
- Copy the clause. The clause runs from that to the end of the describing words.that I bought
- Write the answer. that I bought
Check. that I bought describes the bike. ✓
Relative clauses with where, when and whose
Other relative pronouns describe more than a person or a thing. Where describes a place. When describes a time. Whose shows that something belongs to the noun in front of it.
Where, when and whose
| Relative pronoun | Describes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| where | a place | The village where our family lives is quiet. |
| when | a time | I remember the day when we won the match. |
| whose | a possession or a belonging | The author whose books sold millions is famous. |
Key ideas
- Where describes a place.
- When describes a time.
- Whose shows that something belongs to the noun it describes.
Method. Find the place, then join the clause with where.
- Find the place. The lake is a place.the lake
- Use where for a place. Where describes a place.where ducks swim
- Join the sentences. The clause follows the place.We visited the lake where ducks swim.
- Write the answer. We visited the lake where ducks swim.
Check. where describes the lake, a place. ✓
Method. Find the time, then join the clause with when.
- Find the time. The day is a time.the day
- Use when for a time. When describes a time.when we won the match
- Join the sentences. The clause follows the time.I remember the day when we won the match.
- Write the answer. I remember the day when we won the match.
Check. when describes the day, a time. ✓
Method. Find the owner, then join the clause with whose.
- Find the owner. Her books show that the author owns the books.the author
- Use whose for a possession. Whose shows that the books belong to the author.whose books
- Join the sentences. The clause follows the owner.The author whose books sold millions is famous.
- Write the answer. The author whose books sold millions is famous.
Check. whose shows that the books belong to the author. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: whose is not the same as who's. Whose shows that something belongs to someone, and who's means who is.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to describe a place they know, using where, and a day they remember, using when.
Exercise 5B Practice: where, when and whose
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. We visited the lake. names the noun, and ducks swim on it. describes it.We visited the lake.
- Add the clause. The clause where ducks swim describes the noun, so it follows the noun.where ducks swim
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.We visited the lake where ducks swim.
- Write the answer. We visited the lake where ducks swim.
Check. The relative clause where ducks swim follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. I remember the day. names the noun, and we won the match on that day. describes it.I remember the day.
- Add the clause. The clause when we won the match describes the noun, so it follows the noun.when we won the match
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.I remember the day when we won the match.
- Write the answer. I remember the day when we won the match.
Check. The relative clause when we won the match follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The author is famous. names the noun, and her books sold millions. describes it.The author
- Add the clause. The clause whose books sold millions describes the noun, so it follows the noun.whose books sold millions
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The author whose books sold millions is famous.
- Write the answer. The author whose books sold millions is famous.
Check. The relative clause whose books sold millions follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The village is quiet. names the noun, and our family lives there. describes it.The village
- Add the clause. The clause where our family lives describes the noun, so it follows the noun.where our family lives
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The village where our family lives is quiet.
- Write the answer. The village where our family lives is quiet.
Check. The relative clause where our family lives follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The day was sunny. names the noun, and we went to the beach. describes it.The day
- Add the clause. The clause when we went to the beach describes the noun, so it follows the noun.when we went to the beach
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The day when we went to the beach was sunny.
- Write the answer. The day when we went to the beach was sunny.
Check. The relative clause when we went to the beach follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The painting is old. names the noun, and its frame is gold. describes it.The painting
- Add the clause. The clause whose frame is gold describes the noun, so it follows the noun.whose frame is gold
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The painting whose frame is gold is old.
- Write the answer. The painting whose frame is gold is old.
Check. The relative clause whose frame is gold follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. The café is a place, so the relative pronoun is where.where fits
- Reject the other choices. When is used for a time, not for a place.when do not fit
- Write the answer. where
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. Summer is a time, so the relative pronoun is when.when fits
- Reject the other choices. Where is used for a place, not for a time.where do not fit
- Write the answer. when
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Find the words that begin with the relative pronoun, and copy them.
- Find the relative pronoun. Where is the relative pronoun, and it describes the shelf, a place.where
- Copy the clause. The clause is the words from where to the end of the clause.where the books are kept
- Write the answer. where the books are kept
Check. where the books are kept is the relative clause. ✓
Watch out. A relative clause tells you which person, thing, place or time is meant.
Method. Find the words that begin with the relative pronoun, and copy them.
- Find the relative pronoun. When is the relative pronoun, and it describes the month, a time.when
- Copy the clause. The clause is the words from when to the end of the clause.when the leaves turn gold
- Write the answer. when the leaves turn gold
Check. when the leaves turn gold is the relative clause. ✓
Watch out. A relative clause tells you which person, thing, place or time is meant.
Method. Find the words that begin with the relative pronoun, and copy them.
- Find the relative pronoun. Whose is the relative pronoun, and it shows the tail belongs to the dog.whose
- Copy the clause. The clause is the words from whose to the end of the clause.whose tail is long
- Write the answer. whose tail is long
Check. whose tail is long is the relative clause. ✓
Watch out. A relative clause tells you which person, thing, place or time is meant.
Method. Choose a place, then add the clause after it.
- Choose the place. The garden is a place.The garden
- Add the clause. Where we planted the sunflowers describes the garden.where we planted the sunflowers
- Write the answer. The garden where we planted the sunflowers is full of bees.
Check. The sentence uses where for a place. ✓
Method. Choose a time, then add the clause after it.
- Choose the time. Saturday is a time.Saturday
- Add the clause. When the whole family goes swimming describes the day.when the whole family goes swimming
- Write the answer. Saturday is the day when the whole family goes swimming.
Check. The sentence uses when for a time. ✓
Method. Decide whether the noun is a place or a time.
- Find the noun. The hill is a place.a place
- Choose the pronoun. Where describes a place.where
- Write the answer. The hill is a place, so where is used; when is used for times
Check. where describes a place. ✓
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The village is the place, and the second sentence says where it is.The village
- Add the clause. The clause where our family lives describes the noun, so it follows the noun.where our family lives
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The village where our family lives is quiet.
- Write the answer. The village where our family lives is quiet.
Check. The relative clause where our family lives follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the possession, and join it with whose.
- Find the possession. Its bark belongs to the dog.its bark
- Join the sentences. Whose bark is deep describes the dog.The dog whose bark is deep is loud.
- Write the answer. The dog whose bark is deep is loud.
Check. whose shows that the bark belongs to the dog. ✓
Method. Choose the owner, then show the thing it owns.
- Choose the owner. The baker owns the bread.The baker
- Add the clause. Whose bread is famous shows that the bread belongs to the baker.whose bread is famous
- Write the answer. The baker whose bread is famous opened a new shop.
Check. The sentence uses whose correctly. ✓
Method. Find the relative pronoun, then the words that follow.
- Find the pronoun. Where is the relative pronoun.where
- Copy the clause. The clause is where the ducks swim.where the ducks swim
- Write the answer. where the ducks swim
Check. where the ducks swim describes the lake. ✓
Relative clauses with the relative pronoun left out
Sometimes the relative pronoun can be left out, when the noun is the object of the clause. For example, The book I read is the same as The book that I read. The pronoun that is left out is shown in brackets in the box below.
The pronoun can be left out
| With the pronoun | Left out |
|---|---|
| The book that I read was funny. | The book I read was funny. |
| The song that we sang was loud. | The song we sang was loud. |
| The game that we played was fun. | The game we played was fun. |
Key ideas
- A relative pronoun can be left out when the noun is the object of the clause.
- The sentence must still make sense without the pronoun.
- Do not leave out the pronoun when the clause is the subject: The man who lives here is kind.
Method. Find the noun, then the words after it that form the clause.
- Find the noun. The cake is the noun the clause describes.the cake
- Find the clause. The words after the cake are my friend baked, with no pronoun.my friend baked
- Check the meaning. The clause still makes sense with the pronoun left out.my friend baked
- Write the answer. my friend baked
Check. my friend baked describes the cake. ✓
Method. Leave out the pronoun, because the coat is the object of the clause.
- Find the noun. The coat is the thing she lost.the coat
- Leave out the pronoun. The pronoun that is the object can be left out.The coat she lost
- Join the sentences. The clause she lost describes the coat.The coat she lost is blue.
- Write the answer. The coat she lost is blue.
Check. she lost describes the coat. ✓
Method. Look at what the clause does in the sentence.
- Find the clause. Who lives here is the clause.who lives here
- Decide. Who is the subject of lives, so the pronoun must stay.the pronoun is needed
- Check the sentence. Without who, the sentence would not make sense.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The pronoun is needed because it is the subject. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the pronoun can be left out only when it is the object. Keep who in The man who lives here, because who is the subject.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read a sentence aloud with the pronoun in it, then without it. Ask which version reads more smoothly.
Exercise 5C Practice: the relative pronoun left out
Method. Find the noun, then the two or three words that come straight after it.
- Find the noun. The noun is the thing the clause describes.book
- Copy the words that follow. The words after the noun form the clause, even though no pronoun is written.I read
- Write the answer. I read
Check. I read describes the noun. ✓
Watch out. You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: the book [that] I read.
Method. Find the noun, then the two or three words that come straight after it.
- Find the noun. The noun is the thing the clause describes.song
- Copy the words that follow. The words after the noun form the clause, even though no pronoun is written.we sang
- Write the answer. we sang
Check. we sang describes the noun. ✓
Watch out. You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: the book [that] I read.
Method. Find the noun, then the two or three words that come straight after it.
- Find the noun. The noun is the thing the clause describes.food
- Copy the words that follow. The words after the noun form the clause, even though no pronoun is written.they cooked
- Write the answer. they cooked
Check. they cooked describes the noun. ✓
Watch out. You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: the book [that] I read.
Method. Find the noun, then the two or three words that come straight after it.
- Find the noun. The noun is the thing the clause describes.coat
- Copy the words that follow. The words after the noun form the clause, even though no pronoun is written.she lost
- Write the answer. she lost
Check. she lost describes the noun. ✓
Watch out. You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: the book [that] I read.
Method. Find the noun, then the two or three words that come straight after it.
- Find the noun. The noun is the thing the clause describes.game
- Copy the words that follow. The words after the noun form the clause, even though no pronoun is written.we played
- Write the answer. we played
Check. we played describes the noun. ✓
Watch out. You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: the book [that] I read.
Method. Find the noun, then the two or three words that come straight after it.
- Find the noun. The noun is the thing the clause describes.cake
- Copy the words that follow. The words after the noun form the clause, even though no pronoun is written.my friend baked
- Write the answer. my friend baked
Check. my friend baked describes the noun. ✓
Watch out. You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: the book [that] I read.
Method. Leave out the pronoun, because the bread is the object of made.
- Find the noun. The bread is the thing the baker made.the bread
- Leave out the pronoun. The baker made it, so the pronoun is the object.the baker made
- Write the answer. The bread the baker made is warm.
Check. the baker made describes the bread. ✓
Method. Check whether the pronoun is the subject of the clause.
- Find the subject. Who is the subject of won, so it must stay.who won
- Check the sentence. Without who, the sentence would not make sense.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. who is the subject of won. ✓
Method. Choose a noun that is the object of the clause.
- Choose the noun. The soup is the thing that was cooked.The soup
- Add the clause. My mum cooked it, so no pronoun is needed.my mum cooked
- Write the answer. The soup my mum cooked was delicious.
Check. The sentence leaves out the pronoun correctly. ✓
Method. Find the noun, then the words after it.
- Find the noun. The song is the noun.song
- Copy the words. The clause is we sang.we sang
- Write the answer. we sang
Check. we sang describes the song. ✓
Method. Find the noun that comes before the clause.
- Find the clause. The clause she lost comes after the coat.she lost
- Find the noun. The noun before the clause is coat.coat
- Write the answer. coat
Check. The coat is described by she lost. ✓
Method. Leave out the pronoun, because the game is the object of played.
- Find the noun. The game is the thing we played.the game
- Leave out the pronoun. The clause we played describes the game.The game we played
- Write the answer. The game we played is fun.
Check. we played describes the game. ✓
Method. Decide whether the pronoun is the subject or the object of its clause.
- Look at the first phrase. In the book I read, I is the subject of read, and the book is the object.the book
- Look at the second phrase. In the boy who sat, who is the subject of sat.who sat
- Write the answer. In the book I read, the pronoun is the object, so it can be left out; in the boy who sat, it is the subject, so it must stay.
Check. The pronoun is left out only for the object. ✓
Method. Leave out the pronoun, because the film is the object of watched.
- Find the pronoun. That is the relative pronoun for the film.that
- Leave it out. The film we watched still makes sense.The film we watched was long.
- Write the answer. The film we watched was long.
Check. The film we watched was long makes sense. ✓
Method. Check which pronoun is the object of its clause.
- Check the first. In the girl who sings, who is the subject.who sings
- Check the second. In the dress that I chose, that is the object of chose, so it can be left out.the dress I chose
- Write the answer. the dress that I chose
Check. the dress that I chose can lose its pronoun. ✓
Expanded noun phrases
An expanded noun phrase packs a lot of information into one noun phrase. It may use adjectives, a phrase or a relative clause. The noun is the main word, and the other words describe it. For example: the old man who lived at the end of the lane.
Expanded noun phrases
| Short noun phrase | Expanded noun phrase | Main noun |
|---|---|---|
| the man | the old man who lived at the end of the lane | man |
| the dog | the scruffy brown dog that guarded the farm gate | dog |
| the book | the thick book about ancient Egypt | book |
| the girl | the quiet girl with the red scarf | girl |
| the road | the narrow road that winds up the hill | road |
| the letter | the long letter from my grandmother | letter |
Key ideas
- The main noun is the word that the other words describe.
- An expanded noun phrase can use adjectives, a prepositional phrase, or a relative clause.
- Keep the phrase clear: too many words can confuse the reader.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the words. Old describes the man, and who lived describes him too.old, who lived
- Find the noun. Man is the noun that the other words describe.man
- Write the answer. man
Check. man is the main noun. ✓
Method. Add an adjective before the noun, and a clause after it.
- Find the noun. Road is the noun.road
- Add an adjective. Narrow describes the road.the narrow road
- Add a relative clause. That winds up the hill tells the reader more.that winds up the hill
- Write the answer. the narrow road that winds up the hill
Check. The phrase has an adjective and a clause. ✓
Method. Add an adjective, then a prepositional phrase after the noun.
- Find the noun. Girl is the noun.girl
- Add an adjective. Quiet describes the girl.the quiet girl
- Add a phrase. With the red scarf tells the reader what she wears.with the red scarf
- Write the answer. the quiet girl with the red scarf
Check. The phrase has an adjective and a phrase. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: an expanded noun phrase is still one noun phrase. Do not start a new sentence in the middle of it.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to expand a noun such as the bag three times, each time adding more detail.
Exercise 5D Practice: expanded noun phrases
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the old man who lived at the end of the lane.the old man who lived at the end of the lane
- Find the main noun. man is the noun that the other words describe.man
- Write the answer. man
Check. man is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the scruffy brown dog that guarded the farm gate.the scruffy brown dog that guarded the farm gate
- Find the main noun. dog is the noun that the other words describe.dog
- Write the answer. dog
Check. dog is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the thick book about ancient Egypt.the thick book about ancient Egypt
- Find the main noun. book is the noun that the other words describe.book
- Write the answer. book
Check. book is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the quiet girl with the red scarf.the quiet girl with the red scarf
- Find the main noun. girl is the noun that the other words describe.girl
- Write the answer. girl
Check. girl is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the narrow road that winds up the hill.the narrow road that winds up the hill
- Find the main noun. road is the noun that the other words describe.road
- Write the answer. road
Check. road is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the long letter from my grandmother.the long letter from my grandmother
- Find the main noun. letter is the noun that the other words describe.letter
- Write the answer. letter
Check. letter is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Add an adjective before the noun, and a phrase after it.
- Find the noun. Coat is the noun.coat
- Add the detail. Warm describes the coat, and of thick wool tells what it is made of.the warm coat of thick wool
- Write the answer. the warm coat of thick wool
Check. The phrase gives more detail about the coat. ✓
Method. Add an adjective, a phrase or a relative clause after the noun.
- Keep the noun. The noun is house, and it stays in the phrase.house
- Add the detail. Add words that tell which one, what kind, or what it does.the tall house with the green door
- Write the answer. the tall house with the green door.
Check. The phrase gives the reader more information about the house. ✓
Watch out. A good expanded noun phrase adds detail without making the sentence too long.
Method. Add an adjective, a phrase or a relative clause after the noun.
- Keep the noun. The noun is boat, and it stays in the phrase.boat
- Add the detail. Add words that tell which one, what kind, or what it does.the old boat that rocked on the waves
- Write the answer. the old boat that rocked on the waves.
Check. The phrase gives the reader more information about the boat. ✓
Watch out. A good expanded noun phrase adds detail without making the sentence too long.
Method. An expanded noun phrase has a noun with words that describe it.
- Check the first. Ran fast has no noun.ran fast
- Check the second. The fast runner who won the race has a noun, runner, with adjectives and a clause.runner
- Write the answer. the fast runner who won the race
Check. The second phrase is expanded. ✓
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the words. Scruffy and brown describe the dog, and that guarded the farm gate tells more.scruffy, brown, that guarded
- Find the noun. Dog is the main noun.dog
- Write the answer. dog
Check. dog is the main noun. ✓
Method. Add a phrase, then a clause.
- Keep the noun. The noun is letter.letter
- Add the detail. From my grandmother and that arrived on Tuesday tell the reader more.from my grandmother
- Write the answer. the long letter from my grandmother that arrived on Tuesday.
Check. The phrase has a noun, a phrase and a clause. ✓
Method. Find the adjective that comes before the noun.
- Find the noun. Book is the noun.book
- Find the adjective. Thick is the adjective before the noun.thick
- Write the answer. thick
Check. thick describes the book. ✓
Method. Choose a bird and add two kinds of detail.
- Choose the noun. The bird is the noun.bird
- Add the detail. Small blue describes it, and that sang outside my window adds a clause.the small blue bird that sang
- Write the answer. the small blue bird that sang outside my window.
Check. The phrase has the correct parts. ✓
Method. Compare one phrase with two sentences.
- Look at the phrase. One phrase gives the reader the noun and its detail.one phrase
- Compare with two sentences. Two sentences would repeat the noun and use more words.two sentences
- Write the answer. It packs the detail into one phrase, so the reader does not need a second sentence
Check. The phrase is more concise. ✓
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the quiet girl with the red scarf.the quiet girl with the red scarf
- Find the main noun. Girl is the noun that the other words describe.girl
- Write the answer. girl
Check. girl is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Joining sentences concisely with relative clauses
Two short sentences that share a noun can often be joined with a relative clause. Instead of repeating the noun, the relative pronoun links the two ideas. This makes the writing concise, which means it says more in fewer words.
Before and after
| Two sentences | One sentence with a relative clause |
|---|---|
| The gardener is kind. She waters the plants. | The gardener who waters the plants is kind. |
| We saw a fox. It was hiding under the hedge. | We saw a fox that was hiding under the hedge. |
Key ideas
- Join sentences that share a noun, using a relative pronoun.
- Remove the repeated pronoun, such as she or it.
- Check that the joined sentence still means the same thing.
Method. Find the noun, then replace the pronoun with a relative clause.
- Find the noun. The fox is the noun.a fox
- Replace the pronoun. It is replaced by that was hiding under the hedge.that was hiding
- Join the sentences. The clause follows the noun, and no repeated pronoun is left.We saw a fox that was hiding under the hedge.
- Write the answer. We saw a fox that was hiding under the hedge.
Check. It is replaced by that. ✓
Method. Find the person, and use who.
- Find the person. The gardener is a person.The gardener
- Replace the pronoun. She is replaced by who waters the plants.who waters the plants
- Join the sentences. The clause follows the person.The gardener who waters the plants is kind.
- Write the answer. The gardener who waters the plants is kind.
Check. who is used for a person. ✓
Method. Leave out the pronoun, or use where, to join the sentences.
- Find the place. The hall is the place where we sang.the hall
- Join the sentences. We sang in it, so where or the object works.The hall we sang in
- Check the meaning. The new sentence says the same as the two original sentences.The hall we sang in was full.
- Write the answer. The hall we sang in was full.
Check. The joined sentence keeps the meaning. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a joined sentence must still make sense. Check that each relative clause describes the noun it follows.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read a short paragraph of their own, and to find two short sentences that could be joined with who, which or where.
Exercise 5E Practice: joining sentences concisely
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The shop is the noun, and the second sentence says what it sells.The shop
- Add the clause. The clause that sells maps describes the noun, so it follows the noun.that sells maps
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The shop that sells maps is open.
- Write the answer. The shop that sells maps is open.
Check. The relative clause that sells maps follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The runner is a person, and the second sentence says what she did.The runner
- Add the clause. The clause who won the race describes the noun, so it follows the noun.who won the race
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The runner who won the race is fast.
- Write the answer. The runner who won the race is fast.
Check. The relative clause who won the race follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The lake is the place, and the second sentence says what lives there.The lake
- Add the clause. The clause where fish live describes the noun, so it follows the noun.where fish live
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The lake where fish live is calm.
- Write the answer. The lake where fish live is calm.
Check. The relative clause where fish live follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the time, and join the clause with when.
- Find the time. Lunchtime is the time described.lunchtime
- Join the sentences. When it was lunchtime describes the moment the bell rang.when it was lunchtime
- Write the answer. The bell rang when it was lunchtime.
Check. when describes the time. ✓
Method. Find the owner, and join the clause with whose.
- Find the owner. The kite belongs to the girl.the girl
- Join the sentences. Whose kite flew highest describes the girl.whose kite flew highest
- Write the answer. The girl whose kite flew highest is my friend.
Check. whose shows the kite belongs to the girl. ✓
Method. Find the noun, and join the clause with that.
- Find the thing. The shell is a thing.a shell
- Join the sentences. That was white and smooth describes the shell.that was white and smooth
- Write the answer. I found a shell that was white and smooth.
Check. that describes the shell. ✓
Method. Find the place, then use where.
- Find the place. The park is the place.The park
- Join the sentences. Where we walk our dog describes the park.where we walk our dog
- Write the answer. The park where we walk our dog is big.
Check. where describes the park. ✓
Method. Choose the noun, then join the clause.
- Find the noun. The bus stop is the noun.bus stop
- Join the sentences. That is near the school describes the bus stop.that is near the school
- Write the answer. The bus stop that is near the school is where the bus leaves from.
Check. The sentence keeps the meaning. ✓
Method. A relative clause joins the sentences, so pick the phrase with the clause.
- Check the first. The castle that was built in the 1400s has a relative clause.that was built
- Check the second. The castle was built is a full sentence, not a join.was built
- Write the answer. the castle that was built in the 1400s
Check. the relative clause joins the sentences. ✓
Method. Find the thing, and use which.
- Find the thing. The desk is a thing.The desk
- Join the sentences. Which wobbles describes the desk.which wobbles
- Write the answer. The desk which wobbles is old.
Check. which describes the desk, a thing. ✓
Method. Say what is removed from the writing.
- Look at the repeated words. Two short sentences repeat the noun.repeated noun
- Look at the joined sentence. One sentence with a clause says the same in fewer words.fewer words
- Write the answer. It removes repeated words, such as the same noun or pronoun, so the writing says more in fewer words
Check. The joined sentence is concise. ✓
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Relative clause | A clause that adds information about a noun, and begins with a relative pronoun. |
| who, which, that | Who for a person; which or that for a thing (that can be used for both). |
| where, when, whose | Where for a place; when for a time; whose for a possession. |
| Pronoun left out | Possible when the pronoun is the object of the clause: the book I read. |
| Expanded noun phrase | A noun with adjectives, a phrase or a clause that gives concise detail. |
| Concise joining | Two sentences that share a noun can be joined with a relative clause. |
Can you…?
- I can use who, which and that to describe a person or a thing
- I can use where, when and whose to describe a place, a time or a possession
- I can leave out the relative pronoun when it is the object of the clause
- I can build an expanded noun phrase with an adjective, a phrase or a clause
- I can join two sentences with a relative clause, without repeating a pronoun
Key terms
- relative pronoun
- a word such as who, which, that, where, when or whose that begins a relative clause
- relative clause
- a clause that describes a noun, and begins with a relative pronoun
- expanded noun phrase
- a noun phrase with extra words that give more detail about the noun
- main noun
- the noun that the other words in a noun phrase describe
- concise
- saying a lot in few words, without repetition
- object
- the person or thing that receives the action of a verb
- subject
- the person or thing that does the action of a verb
Exercise 5Z Check-up
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The boy is a person.The boy
- Add the clause. The clause who lives in Leeds describes the noun, so it follows the noun.who lives in Leeds
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.The boy who lives in Leeds is my cousin.
- Write the answer. The boy who lives in Leeds is my cousin.
Check. The relative clause who lives in Leeds follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the noun that the second sentence describes, then add the clause after it.
- Find the noun. The lake is the place.We visited the lake.
- Add the clause. The clause where ducks swim describes the noun, so it follows the noun.where ducks swim
- Join the sentences. The main sentence keeps its verb, and the clause sits in the middle.We visited the lake where ducks swim.
- Write the answer. We visited the lake where ducks swim.
Check. The relative clause where ducks swim follows the noun. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the pronoun he, she, it or they in the joined sentence. Replace it with the relative pronoun.
Method. Find the words that begin with the relative pronoun, and copy them.
- Find the relative pronoun. When is the relative pronoun for a time.when
- Copy the clause. The clause is the words from when to the end of the clause.when we won the match
- Write the answer. when we won the match
Check. when we won the match is the relative clause. ✓
Watch out. A relative clause tells you which person, thing, place or time is meant.
Method. Find the noun, then the two or three words that come straight after it.
- Find the noun. The noun is the thing the clause describes.food
- Copy the words that follow. The words after the noun form the clause, even though no pronoun is written.they cooked
- Write the answer. they cooked
Check. they cooked describes the noun. ✓
Watch out. You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: the book [that] I read.
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the phrase. The phrase is the narrow road that winds up the hill.the narrow road that winds up the hill
- Find the main noun. Road is the noun that the other words describe.road
- Write the answer. road
Check. road is the main noun. ✓
Watch out. The main noun is the word that the other words are about. Adjectives and clauses describe it.
Method. Find the pronoun that describes a place.
- Find the place. The village is a place.village
- Find the pronoun. Where describes a place.where
- Write the answer. where
Check. where describes the village. ✓
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. Whose shows that the books belong to the author.whose fits
- Reject the other choices. Who would not show that the books belong to the author.who do not fit
- Write the answer. whose
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Add an adjective, a phrase or a relative clause after the noun.
- Keep the noun. The noun is girl, and it stays in the phrase.girl
- Add the detail. Add words that tell which one, what kind, or what it does.the quiet girl with the red scarf
- Write the answer. the quiet girl with the red scarf.
Check. The phrase gives the reader more information about the girl. ✓
Watch out. A good expanded noun phrase adds detail without making the sentence too long.
Method. Find the noun, and join the clause with that.
- Find the noun. Dog is the noun.dog
- Join the sentences. That belonged to the farmer describes the dog.that belonged to the farmer
- Write the answer. A dog that belonged to the farmer barked.
Check. that describes the dog. ✓
Method. Say what it has, and what it does.
- Say what it has. It has a noun with extra describing words.extra words
- Say what it does. It gives more information in one phrase.more information
- Write the answer. A noun phrase with extra words, such as adjectives or a relative clause, that give more information about the noun.
Check. The phrase gives more information. ✓
Total 15 marks. Allow about 15 minutes.
Exercise 5X Practice test questions
Method. Find the person, then join the clause with who.
- Find the person. The teacher is a person.The teacher
- Join the sentences. Who helps everyone describes the teacher.The teacher who helps everyone is kind.
- Write the answer. The teacher who helps everyone is kind.
Check. who describes the teacher. ✓
Method. Find the relative pronoun, and the words that follow.
- Find the pronoun. That is the relative pronoun.that
- Copy the clause. The clause is that hangs in the hall.that hangs in the hall
- Write the answer. that hangs in the hall
Check. that hangs in the hall describes the painting. ✓
Method. The castle is a place, so use where.
- Find the noun. The castle is a place.castle
- Choose the pronoun. Where describes a place.where
- Write the answer. where
Check. where describes the castle, a place. ✓
Method. Find the noun, then copy the words after it.
- Find the noun. The cake is the noun.cake
- Copy the clause. The words after cake are my friend baked.my friend baked
- Write the answer. my friend baked
Check. my friend baked describes the cake. ✓
Method. Find the noun that the other words describe.
- Find the words. Thick and about ancient Egypt describe the book.thick, about ancient Egypt
- Find the noun. Book is the main noun.book
- Write the answer. book
Check. book is the main noun. ✓
Method. Find the time, then join the clause with when.
- Find the time. The day is the time.the day
- Join the sentences. When we won the match describes the day.I remember the day when we won the match.
- Write the answer. I remember the day when we won the match.
Check. when describes the day. ✓
Method. Check the job of the pronoun in its clause.
- Find the subject. Who is the subject of lives.who lives
- Decide. Without who, the sentence does not make sense, so the pronoun must stay.stays
- Write the answer. Who is the subject of lives, so the pronoun must stay.
Check. who is the subject. ✓
Method. Add an adjective before the noun, and a clause after it.
- Keep the noun. Boat is the noun.boat
- Add an adjective. Old describes the boat.the old boat
- Add a clause. That rocked on the waves tells more about the boat.that rocked on the waves
- Write the answer. the old boat that rocked on the waves
Check. The phrase has an adjective and a clause. ✓
Method. Find the place, then join the clause with where.
- Find the place. The bus stop is the place.bus stop
- Join the sentences. Where the bus leaves describes the bus stop.The bus stop where the bus leaves is near the school.
- Write the answer. The bus stop where the bus leaves is near the school.
Check. where describes the bus stop. ✓