Sentence

Combining
Relative Pronouns and
Relative Clauses
 Try to combine these two
sentences into only one
sentence.
• Tirebiter stood up abruptly.
• Tirebiter was running for class
president.
 Does your sentence look
like this?
• Tirebiter, who was running for class
president, stood up abruptly.
 Now try another pair.
• He made an impassioned speech.
• The speech argued for longer
lunches.
 An answer.
• He made an impassioned speech that
argued for longer lunches.
 How about these two?
• His words were fiery and dramatic.
• His words inspired bursts of
applause.
 Two answers possibilities.
• His words, which inspired bursts of
applause, were fiery and dramatic.
• His words, which were fiery and
dramatic, inspired bursts of
applause.
 What do you notice about
these combined sentences?
• Tirebiter, who was running for class
president, stood up abruptly.
• He made an impassioned speech that
argued for longer lunches.
• His words, which inspired bursts of
applause, were fiery and dramatic.
• His words, which were fiery and
dramatic, inspired bursts of
applause.
 So what are these
connector words called?
• who, that, or which – Relative pronouns
• These connectors substitute for nouns and
phrases.
• They begin Relative Clauses – all of which
modify nouns.
• They provide a smooth, mature way to
combine sentences.
• The examples show relative clauses that
use connectors such as – Go back and
check! Can you find the clauses and
relative pronouns?
Remember these connecting
words…
• Certain connectors replace nouns
that refer to people:
who, whom, whose.
• Other connectors replace nouns that
refer to things, animals, and ideas:
that, which.
• Don’t use “that” when referring to
people, use who!
 Now try to combine these
using a relative pronoun and
clause.
• In the doorway stood Tirebiter’s
teacher.
• The doorway opened to the hall.
• Tirebiter’s teacher appeared deeply
unamused.
 An answer.
• In the doorway that opened to the
hall stood Tirebiter’s teacher, who
appeared deeply unamused.
 Final practice.
• George asked for help from his
instructor.
• She set up an appointment after
class.
 Does your answer match
mine?
• George asked for help from his
instructor who set up an
appointment after class.
 How do you punctuate
relative clauses?

• If interrupting in the middle of the

sentence, or if unnecessary to the
meaning of the sentence, or set at
the end of a sentence,
separate with commas.
• If necessary to the meaning of the
sentence, no commas.