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The following is my question:

Join each pair of sentences together to make one sentence, using who or
that. Write the second sentence as a relative clause.

1. The man was badly injured. He was driving the car.

2. The children broke my window. They live in the next street.

Answer Key

1. The man who was badly injured was driving the car.

2. The children who broke my window live in the next street.

Can I say them this way?

1. The man who was driving the car was badly injured.

2. The children who live in the next street broke my window.

Is there any difference between the answer key and my sentences?

Thank you for your kind help.

[Mary W. Ng]

Question:

The following is my question:

Join each pair of sentences together to make one sentence, using who or
that. Write the second sentence as a relative clause.

1. The man was badly injured. He was driving the car.

2. The children broke my window. They live in the next street.

Answer Key

1. The man who was badly injured was driving the car.

2. The children who broke my window live in the next street.

Can I say them this way?

1. The man who was driving the car was badly injured.

2. The children who live in the next street broke my window.

Is there any difference between the answer key and my sentences?

Answer:

From the instructions given, the answer key's answers are incorrect: the second sentence should be a relative clause, not the main clause. Your answers are all correct.

When a relative pronoun is used to join two simple sentences, the first simple sentence will become the main clause of the resulting complex sentence, and the second sentence the relative clause.

The four sentences certainly do not mean the same. Please note that all four relative clauses are defining.

1. In "The man who was badly injured was driving the car", the emphasis is on the man's action. The main clause is "The man was driving the car"; the relative clause restricts the meaning of "the man".

2. In "The children who broke my window live in the next street", the emphasis is on where the children live. The main clause is "The children live in the next street"; the relative clause restricts the meaning of "the children".

3. In "The man who was driving the car was badly injured", the emphasis is on the man's condition. The main clause is "The man was badly injured"; the relative clause restricts the meaning of "the man".

4. In "The children who live in the next streeet broke my window", the emphasis is on the children's action. The main clause is "The children broke my window"; the relative clause restricts the meaning of "the children".

I hope this helps.
_________________
Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com