Reduce Relative Clauses to Participial Phrases

Model one item aloud, then let students work in pairs and read their combined sentences to each other. Follow up by having them combine two short sentences in their own writing.

Shorten relative clauses into participial phrases in sentences about a weather station. To shorten a relative clause, drop who, which or that with any form of be, or change the verb to its -ing form. The scientist who was working late becomes the scientist working late. The directions on the page read: Rewrite each sentence on the 2 lines. Turn the underlined clause into a participial phrase, and keep any commas the phrase needs. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade sentences, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

Use whose to show what belongs to a noun in the first sentence. The Sydney Opera House was designed by Jørn Utzon, and its roof shells look like sails, so the second sentence becomes a whose clause.

In formal writing, a preposition can move to the front of a relative clause, right before whom for people or which for things, as in the friend to whom I wrote.

Drop who, which or that along with a form of be, or change the verb to its ing form. The scientist who was working late becomes the scientist working late.