Language development 1

Review of relative clauses

Expert grammar page 174

1. Read sentences A-D, then answer question 1-4

A. The restaurant that Laura went to was a special one for her and Dan.
Answer 2
B. Laura got a text message from Dan, who was waiting outside.
Answer 4
C. Dan, whose friend was hiding behind a tree, had the proposal videoed.
Answer 3
D. Everyone who I meet asks if I was thrilled.
Answer 1
Which sentence/sentences
1) Contain(s) non-defining relative clauses? (i.e. non-essential
information)
2) Has/have relative pronouns which refer to the object of the verb in the
relative clause?
3) Could replace the relative pronoun with which?
4) Contain(s) relative pronouns which can be left out?
2. A- Complete the sentences using relative pronouns. Which sentences need additional
punctuation?
1) I have a friend _ cousin is an actor
2) Ella’s colleague _ you met last week has invited me for a meal.
3) Lee has step-sisters and brothers _ is quite common these days.
4) Have you been to that new restaurant _ is near the railway station?
5) I haven’t finished reading that book _ you gave me last week.
6) It’s a beautiful area _ some of the best beaches in the world are to be found.
B- Compare your answers. Can any pronouns be left out?

Relative pronouns with prepositions

3. A- Underline the correct words to complete the text.

Romeo and Juliet is a play (1) by which / in which the lovers fall in love at first sight.
Juliet’s cousin is killed by Romeo, (2) as a result of which / in which case Romeo is
exiled. The lovers go to see Friar Lawrence, (3) without his help / without whose help
they would be unable to marry.
Romeo and Juliet make many plans for their future, (4) most of them / all of which go
wrong. Juliet is forced to marry someone else, (5) at which point / by when she takes a
sleeping draught to pretend she has died. A lot of young actors, (6) many of whom /
any of these have been unknown, have taken on the roles.

B- Take turns to read the sentences in Exercise 3a aloud, replacing the relative
pronouns with expressions more typical of spoken language.

Reduced relative clauses

 4. In the following sentences, the relative clauses have been “reduced” using a present or
pat participle clause or an infinitive with to. Say them in a different way, using relative
clauses.
1) Henry VIII, born in 1491, married his sister-in-law Catherine of Aragon when
his brother died.
2) Twenty years later he divorced Catherine, believed to be too old to give him
the son he desperately wanted.
3) He had also fallen in love with a woman living at court, Anne Boleyn, later
executed.
4) The only woman to give him a son was his next wife, called Jane Seymour.
5) However, Jane Seymour, said to be Henry VIII’s favourite, died during
childbirth.

Combining sentences

5. A- Read the following story of the relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard
Burton. Then combine the groups of sentences using relative and reduced relative
clauses.
1) Elizabeth Taylor was a well-known Hollywood actress. She made many films
with the Welsh actor Richard Burton. The most famous film was probably
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
2) In 1961, they made their first film together. It was based on the story of
Cleopatra. Elizabeth played the Queen in it.
3) The couple fell in love on the set. They were already married to other people.
They attracted huge publicity.
4) The couple married in 1964. They went on to live a very lavish lifestyle. As a
result of this, they became even more famous.
5) Richard bought Elizabeth a huge diamond. It was the largest, most expensive
in the world. It was engraved with the message, “Eternal love till Death”.
6) They got divorced in 1974. They met up again later. They remarried a year
later.
B- Work in pairs and take turns to feedback on your answers. Make sure that you
pause to add the extra information when there are non-defining relative clauses.