Explaining relative clauses with ‘which’ - E3-06W

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[Important reminder: this is a level 3 (intermediate) explanation file – E3-... It is for students who are just learning how to use relative clauses. If you want to know more, look at the material on relative clauses in the higher levels: E4-… etc]

Study the following examples:

0.  I’m looking for a shop. It sells old records.

          I’m looking for a shop which sells old records.

     00. The shop was at the corner of the High Street. It sold old records.

The shop was at the corner of the High Street which sold old records.

The shop, which was at the corner of the High Street, sold old records.

 

The first answer in 00 is wrong because it means that the street sold old records – which is nonsense. The relative pronoun which must come immediately after the noun to which it refers.

In other words, we deal with ‘which’ exactly as we did with ‘who’ in E3-05W: in the second sentence, the shop is the subject of both verbs (was, sold); in the first sentence, shop is the object of the first verb (look for) and subject of the second (sells)

 

Now rewrite these  using which and making one sentence.

 

1. Did you see the film? It was on Channel Four last night.
2. My dog is a German Shepherd. It is very intelligent.
3. Turkey is a country, Turkey has a lot of delicious fruit and vegetables.
4. This bike is about 10 years old. It’s still in really good condition.

 

Scroll down the page for the answers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Did you see the film which was on Channel Four last night?

2. My dog, which is very intelligent, is a German shepherd.

3. Turkey is a country which has a lot of delicious fruit and vegetables

4. This bike, which is about 10 years old, is still in really good condition.