AIRMEN’S JOURNAL
PILOT’S TALK
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PILOT’S TALK · GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Mount Etna · Level B · Unit 11

Name: __________________________ Date: ______________

Unit 11. Restrictions, Which Led to a Suspension: Relative Clauses

Words from the text: lead to, ash plume, emission, presence, limitation, disrupt, suspend, operator, capacity, hazard, schedule, reposition

A Use which to add extra information about the whole previous part of the sentence (a whole situation), not just one word. This is a common way to explain a result. Always put a comma before which.

The airport operator tightened capacity restrictions, which led to a complete suspension of all flights.

The volcano increased its ash emission, which created a serious hazard for aircraft.

Wind direction changed suddenly, which forced several airlines to reposition their aircraft.

После запятой which относится ко всей предыдущей части предложения, а не к одному слову — по-русски здесь обычно используется 'что', а не 'который'.

B Which can also refer to one noun (a thing) that was just mentioned. It adds extra details about that thing — like 'который' in Russian.

The ash plume, which reached about 4 kilometers, was reported by INGV.

The new limitations, which affected flight schedules, were announced by SAC.

В этом случае which = 'который' и относится к конкретному существительному, а не ко всей ситуации (сравните с разделом A).

C To join two separate sentences into one, replace the subject of the second sentence (this/that) with which and add a comma before it. This is a common pattern in aviation reports for describing causes and results.

Restrictions were tightened. + This disrupted the whole airport schedule. → Restrictions were tightened, which disrupted the whole airport schedule.

The ash plume's presence continued for two days. + This caused reduced capacity at the airport. → The ash plume's presence continued for two days, which caused reduced capacity at the airport.

Exercises

11.1 Join the two sentences into one, using which.

Example: The volcano's ash emission increased overnight. This created a serious hazard for pilots. → The volcano's ash emission increased overnight, which created a serious hazard for pilots.

  1. The airport operator suspended operations. This disrupted hundreds of passengers' travel plans.
  2. Airlines canceled several flights. This led to extra costs for many passengers.
  3. The ash plume moved south. This reduced the airport's capacity for several hours.
  4. New limitations were introduced. This forced airlines to change their schedules.
  5. Brussels Airlines diverted a flight to Palermo. This meant passengers had to continue their journey by bus.
  6. Wind conditions worsened quickly. This led to a complete suspension of arrivals and departures.

11.2 Read the short report below. Find the four clauses with which and decide what each one refers to: a noun, or the whole previous part of the sentence.

Mount Etna's ash emission increased overnight, which led to new airspace limitations. The airport operator, which manages Catania Fontanarossa, suspended all operations at 06:00. The ash plume, which reached about 4 kilometers, was reported by INGV. Restrictions were tightened later, which caused a complete suspension of flights.

Example: Mount Etna's ash emission increased overnight, which led to new airspace limitations. → whole previous situation (the increase in ash emission)

  1. The airport operator, which manages Catania Fontanarossa, suspended all operations at 06:00.
  2. The ash plume, which reached about 4 kilometers, was reported by INGV.
  3. Restrictions were tightened later, which caused a complete suspension of flights.

11.3 Complete the sentences with which and the correct form of a verb from the box: lead to, force, reduce, affect, disrupt, cause.

Example: The ash emission increased, ______ (create) a bigger hazard for pilots. → which created

  1. The volcano's activity increased, ________________ (lead to) new flight limitations.
  2. SAC tightened the rules, ________________ (force) airlines to reposition aircraft.
  3. The storm reduced visibility, ________________ (reduce) airport capacity.
  4. The ash plume's presence continued for two days, ________________ (affect) passenger schedules.
  5. Several flights were canceled, ________________ (disrupt) travel plans for many passengers.
  6. The airport operator suspended operations, ________________ (cause) long delays for everyone.

11.4 Complete the sentences with your own ending, using which. Write a realistic result.

Example: The airport suspended all flights, which ______. → which caused long delays for passengers.

  1. Volcanic ash emissions increased sharply, which ________________.
  2. The operator reduced capacity at the airport, which ________________.
  3. Airlines diverted several flights to Palermo, which ________________.
  4. New limitations were introduced, which ________________.
  5. The ash plume's presence continued for two days, which ________________.

Answer key

Mount Etna · Level B · Unit 11. Open-ended responses are model answers, not the only correct responses.

Unit 11. Restrictions, Which Led to a Suspension: Relative Clauses

11.1

  1. The airport operator suspended operations, which disrupted hundreds of passengers' travel plans.
  2. Airlines canceled several flights, which led to extra costs for many passengers.
  3. The ash plume moved south, which reduced the airport's capacity for several hours.
  4. New limitations were introduced, which forced airlines to change their schedules.
  5. Brussels Airlines diverted a flight to Palermo, which meant passengers had to continue their journey by bus.
  6. Wind conditions worsened quickly, which led to a complete suspension of arrivals and departures.

11.2

  1. a noun (the airport operator)
  2. a noun (the ash plume)
  3. whole previous situation (restrictions being tightened)

11.3

  1. which led to
  2. which forced
  3. which reduced
  4. which affected
  5. which disrupted
  6. which caused

11.4

  1. which created a serious hazard for pilots.
  2. which disrupted passenger schedules.
  3. which meant passengers had to travel by bus.
  4. which forced airlines to reposition aircraft.
  5. which led to a complete suspension of flights.