Forming relative clauses

A holiday in Scotland


1- We spent our holiday in Scotland last year. Scotland is in the north of Great Britain.Last year we spent our holidays in Scotland, which is in the north of Great Britain.

The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'Scotland'.This is a non-defining relative clause. Use commas.which may not be replaced with that.Subject pronouns must always be used.


2- People live in Scotland. They are called Scots.The people who live in Scotland are called Scots.

The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'people'.This is a defining relative clause (otherwise we wouldn't know 'which people' are meant). Don't use commas.Subject pronouns must always be used.


3- We first went to Edinburgh. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.We first went to Edinburgh, which is the capital of Scotland.

The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'Edinburgh'.This is a non-defining relative clause. Use commas.which may not be replaced with that.Subject pronouns must always be used.


4- Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh. He wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, was born in Edinburgh.

Arthur Conan Doyle (Your answer: »was born in Edinburgh who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories.«) , who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, was born in Edinburgh.The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'Arthur Conan Doyle'.This is a non-defining relative clause. Use commas. who may not be replaced with that.Subject pronouns must always be used.


5- Then we visited a lake. It is in the Highlands.

The lake (Your answer: »which we visit is in the Highlands.«) we then visited is in the Highlands.The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'lake'.This is a defining relative clause (we don't mean any lake, but the lake we visited). Don't use commas. In defining relative clauses, the object pronoun can be dropped.

The lake which we then visited is in Highlands.


6- Loch Ness is 37 km long. People know it for its friendly monster.

Loch Ness, which people know for its friendly monster, is 37 km long.

Loch Ness (Your answer: »where people know it for its friendly monster is 37 km long.«) , which people know for its friendly monster, is 37 km long.The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'Loch Ness'.This is a non-defining relative clause. Use commas. which may not be replaced with that.In non-defining relative clauses, object pronouns must be used.)


7- There we met an old man. He told us that he had seen Nessie.

An old man we met there who told us that he had seen Nessie.

An old man(Your answer: »we met there, who told us that he had seen Nessie«) we met there told us that he had seen Nessie.The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'man'.This is a defining relative clause (we don't man any man, but the man we met). Don't use commas. In defining relative clauses, the object pronoun can be dropped.


8- We then travelled to a mountain. The mountain is near the town of Fort William.

We then travelled to a mountain which is near the town of Fort William.

The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'mountain'.This is a defining relative clause (not any mountain, but the one near Fort William). Don't use commas.Subject pronouns must always be used.
The mountain is the highest mountain in Great Britain. It is called Ben Nevis.The mountain (Your answer: »which is the highest mountain is Great Britain is called Ben Nevis.«) , which is the highest mountain in Great Britain, is called Ben Nevis.The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'mountain'.This is a non-defining relative clause (as is has been defined in the previous sentence). Use commas. which may not be replaced with that.Subject pronouns must always be used.
I sent you a postcard. It was written on the summit of Ben Nevis.The postcard (Your answer: »which I sent you is written on the summit of Ben Nevis.«) I sent you was written on the summit of Ben Nevis.The relative clause must be placed right after what it refers to, which in this case is 'postcard'.This is a defining relative clause (not any postcard, but the one I sent you). Don't use commas. In defining relative clauses, the object pronoun can be dropped.