Year 7 English: Use Relative Adverbs

What are Relative Adverbs?

Relative adverbs are special words that are used to connect two clauses (a part of a sentence with its own subject and verb) together. They are used to introduce relative clauses, which provide more information about something in the sentence. The most common relative adverbs are:

• Where
• When
• Why

Each of these relative adverbs has a specific purpose and use, and they help make sentences clearer by adding extra details.

1. Where

Where is used to talk about places. It connects two parts of a sentence by introducing a relative clause that tells us more about a place.

Example:

• “This is the house where I grew up.”
• (The relative clause “where I grew up” tells us more about the house.)

Rule:

• Use where when you want to give more information about a location.

2. When

When is used to talk about time. It introduces a relative clause that provides extra information about when something happened.

Example:

• “I remember the day when we met.”
• (The relative clause “when we met” gives us more details about the day.)

Rule:

• Use when to talk about specific times or moments.

3. Why

Why is used to explain the reason for something. It introduces a relative clause that explains why something happens or is the case.

Example:

• “I don’t understand the reason why he left.”
• (The relative clause “why he left” explains the reason.)

Rule:

• Use why when you need to explain the reason for something.

Key Rules for Using Relative Adverbs

1. Relative adverbs introduce relative clauses: These clauses give us extra information about a noun in the sentence.

• Example: “This is the school where I learned to read.” (The relative clause is “where I learned to read,” which tells us more about the school.)

1. No need for extra prepositions: You don’t need to add words like “at,” “on,” or “in” with relative adverbs.

• Incorrect: “This is the place where I grew up in.”
• Correct: “This is the place where I grew up.”

1. They are different from relative pronouns: Relative pronouns (like “who,” “which,” and “that”) are used to give extra information about people or things, but relative adverbs focus on places, times, and reasons.

Tips and Tricks

• Where = Location: If you’re giving more information about a place, use where.
• “This is the café where we met.”
• When = Time: If you’re talking about when something happened, use when.
• “That was the year when everything changed.”
• Why = Reason: If you’re explaining the reason for something, use why.
• “She told me the reason why she was late.”

Examples in Sentences

1. “This is the park where we play football.”
2. “Do you remember the time when we went to the beach?”
3. “I know the reason why he didn’t come to school.”

Questions

Easy Difficulty

1. What relative adverb do you use to talk about a place?
2. What relative adverb do you use to talk about a time or moment?
3. What relative adverb do you use to explain a reason?
4. Complete the sentence: “This is the town __ I was born.”
5. Complete the sentence: “I remember the day __ we went hiking.”
6. Complete the sentence: “Do you know the reason __ she left?”
7. Which relative adverb would you use in this sentence: “That was the year __ we moved to London”?
8. Which relative adverb would you use to talk about a place: “where” or “why”?
9. Complete the sentence: “This is the room __ we have meetings.”
10. Complete the sentence: “I remember the day __ we had the school play.”
11. Which relative adverb would you use to explain a reason: “when” or “why”?
12. Complete the sentence: “This is the place __ we met last year.”
13. Which relative adverb is used in this sentence: “I know the reason __ he didn’t come”?
14. What word would you use to give more information about a time?
15. Complete the sentence: “I can’t forget the moment __ I won the race.”
16. Complete the sentence: “This is the house __ I live.”
17. What relative adverb is used in this sentence: “That was the day __ I got my first job”?
18. What relative adverb do you use to talk about a reason?
19. Complete the sentence: “Do you know the reason __ the bus is late?”
20. What relative adverb would you use to talk about a location: “when” or “where”?

Medium Difficulty

1. What is the difference between “where” and “when”?
2. Which relative adverb would you use to explain a reason: “when” or “why”?
3. Complete the sentence: “This is the café __ we first met.” (where/when)
4. Complete the sentence: “That was the year __ everything changed.” (when/why)
5. Which relative adverb gives information about time: “where” or “when”?
6. Which relative adverb would you use in this sentence: “Do you know the reason __ they didn’t come?” (where/why)
7. Complete the sentence: “This is the park __ we used to play.” (why/where)
8. What relative adverb would you use to talk about a specific year?
9. Complete the sentence: “That’s the reason __ we need more time.” (why/when)
10. Which relative adverb would you use to describe a time: “where” or “when”?
11. Complete the sentence: “This is the shop __ we bought our uniforms.” (why/where)
12. What relative adverb would you use to explain why something happened?
13. Which relative adverb gives information about a location: “why” or “where”?
14. Complete the sentence: “That was the day __ I met him.” (where/when)
15. Which relative adverb would you use to explain the reason for something?
16. Complete the sentence: “Do you know the place __ they filmed the movie?” (where/why)
17. Which relative adverb is used to describe a time: “when” or “why”?
18. Complete the sentence: “This is the year __ I graduate.” (where/when)
19. Which relative adverb gives more information about a place?
20. Complete the sentence: “I know the reason __ she’s upset.” (why/when)

High Difficulty

1. Explain how “where” is used in a sentence.
2. Complete the sentence: “That’s the year __ I moved to the UK.” (why/when)
3. What relative adverb gives information about a place?
4. Complete the sentence: “This is the house __ I grew up.” (when/where)
5. What is the difference between “why” and “when”?
6. Complete the sentence: “She told me the reason __ she was late.” (where/why)
7. Which relative adverb would you use to describe a location?
8. Complete the sentence: “That was the time __ everything changed.” (where/when)
9. Why do we use “why” in this sentence: “I don’t know the reason why he left”?
10. Complete the sentence: “This is the place __ we took our photo.” (why/where)
11. What relative adverb would you use to talk about a specific place?
12. Complete the sentence: “I remember the day __ we went to the beach.” (where/when)
13. What is the difference between using “where” and “why” in a sentence?
14. Complete the sentence: “That’s the reason __ they need help.” (why/where)
15. Which relative adverb gives information about a time?
16. Complete the sentence: “I remember the moment __ I opened my results.” (why/when)
17. Which relative adverb explains a reason for something happening?
18. Complete the sentence: “That’s the shop __ we bought our books.” (why/where)
19. What relative adverb would you use to describe a specific day?
20. Complete the sentence: “I know the reason __ they left early.” (when/why)

Answers

Easy Difficulty

1. Where
2. When
3. Why
4. Where
5. When
6. Why
7. When
8. Where
9. Where
10. When
11. Why
12. Where
13. Why
14. When
15. When
16. Where
17. When
18. Why
19. Why
20. Where

Medium Difficulty

1. “Where” is used for places, and “when” is used for times.
2. Why
3. Where
4. When
5. When
6. Why
7. Where
8. When
9. Why
10. When
11. Where
12. Why
13. Where
14. When
15. Why
16. Where
17. When
18. When
19. Where
20. Why

High Difficulty

1. “Where” is used to introduce a relative clause that gives more information about a place.
2. When
3. Where
4. Where
5. “Why” gives a reason, and “when” gives a time.
6. Why
7. Where
8. When
9. “Why” explains the reason for his leaving.
10. Where
11. Where
12. When
13. “Where” is used for places, “why” is used for reasons.
14. Why
15. When
16. When
17. Why
18. Where
19. When
20. Why