Relative Clauses Made Simple

A Parent-Friendly Guide for Year 5 Homework

Relative Clauses

If your child has been told to “underline the relative clause” and you’re not sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Relative clauses sound technical, but they’re simply mini-sentences that add extra information about a noun. Below you’ll find clear definitions, easy-to-spot examples, and quick activities so you can support your child with confidence.

1. Quick Definition

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that:

1. Describes a noun (called its antecedent).

2. Begins with a relative pronoun such as who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when.

3. Cannot stand alone—it relies on the main clause for full meaning.

The girl who won the race is my sister.

“who won the race” is the relative clause adding more detail about the girl.

2. Subordinate vs Relative Clause: What’s the Difference?

Feature	Subordinate Clause (umbrella term)	Relative Clause (specific type)
Introduced by	Subordinating conjunction (because, although, if …)	Relative pronoun (who, which, that …)
Function	Adds any extra info (reason, time, condition, etc.)	Adds extra info about a noun
Example	We stayed inside because it rained.	The book that I borrowed was thrilling.

Think of it this way:All relative clauses are subordinate clauses, but not all subordinate clauses are relative clauses.

3. Relative Pronouns Cheat Sheet

Pronoun	Used For	Example
who / whom	people	The doctor who treated me was kind.
which	animals / objects	The cake which she baked smelled delicious.
that	people, animals, objects (everyday speech)	The dog that barked kept us awake.
whose	possession	The artist whose paintings sold lives nearby.
where / when	place / time (technically relative adverbs)	The museum where we met is reopening.

4. Punctuation Pointers

Restrictive (defining) relative clause

Gives essential information; no commas.

Children who study regularly make steady progress.

Non-restrictive (non-defining) relative clause

Adds extra, removable detail; set off by commas.

My bike, which has a red bell, needs new tyres.

Tip for kids: Cover up the clause; if the sentence still makes sense, use commas.

5. Spot-the-Clause Practice

1. Underline the Relative Clause

   1. The film that we watched yesterday was hilarious.

   2. The teacher who loves science organised the trip.

2. Bracket Game

Write sentences and ask your child to bracket the clause:

The castle [where the king lived] was enormous.

3. Clause Hunt in Books

Pick a chapter from a favourite story; highlight relative pronouns in yellow and the rest of the clause in green.

4. Practice Questions

   Do some EnglishFun practice questions to become a pro at Relative Clauses.

6. Common Pitfalls (and Fixes)

Slip-up	Quick Fix
Mixing up that and who for people	Encourage who for people in formal writing.
Forgetting commas on non-restrictive clauses	Use the cover-up test to decide if commas are needed.
Double subject: “The dog which it barked”	Remove the extra pronoun: “The dog which barked”.

7. Why Relative Clauses Matter in Year 5

• Curriculum goal: Pupils must “use relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when, whose, that.”

• SATs preparation: Grammar papers often ask pupils to identify or insert relative clauses correctly.

• Improved writing: They let children combine ideas smoothly, avoiding repetitive short sentences.

Final Thought

A relative clause is simply a sentence-helper that starts with a relative pronoun and tells us more about a noun. Practise spotting and writing them a few times a week, and your child will soon underline relative clauses—and use them—like a pro.

Happy clause hunting!