English Language Lessons

Complete Guide For Relative Clauses And House Vocabularies.

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Ben Siran Academy — Garage Pronunciation & Relative Clauses
BS

Garage: US vs UK Pronunciation + Relative Clauses

Instructor: Ben Siran  |  Student: Mahmood  |  Focus: Pronunciation Awareness & Grammar

1. Quick Warm-up

Ask the student: “How do you pronounce garage?” — get an attempt, then show the native forms below.

US English 🇺🇸

/ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ — guh-RAHZH
Stress on the second syllable. Ending: a soft “zh” sound as in measure.
Sentence: I parked the car in the garage. (guh-RAHZH)

UK English 🇬🇧

/ˈɡær.ɪdʒ/ — GARR-idge
Alt: /ˈɡær.ɑːʒ/ — GAH-rahzh
Stress on the first syllable. Ending: either “-idge” or “-ahzh” depending on speaker.
Sentence: The car’s in the garage. (GARR-idge or GAH-rahzh)

Comparison Table

Variety IPA Easy Reading Stress
🇺🇸 US /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ guh-RAHZH 2nd syllable
🇬🇧 UK /ˈɡær.ɪdʒ/ GARR-idge 1st syllable
🇬🇧 UK (alt.) /ˈɡær.ɑːʒ/ GAH-rahzh 1st syllable

Practice Activities

A Listen & Repeat — Model US, UK, UK-alt. Student repeats 3× each.
B Role-play — Short dialogues: (1) US: “Is there a garage nearby?” (2) UK: “My car’s in the garage this week.” Swap accents.
C Minimal pairs — Compare garage with mirage, carriage; focus on endings and stress.

2. Relative Clauses — Clear Guide

Introduce relative clauses after pronunciation: they help build longer, more precise sentences (useful for speaking & writing).

What is a relative clause?

A relative clause gives extra information about a noun. It usually starts with a relative pronoun such as who, which, that, whom, whose, where, when.

Two Main Types

Defining (Restrictive) Relative Clause

Gives essential information that identifies the noun. No commas.

Example: The student who studies every day will pass the exam.
(We mean a specific student.)

Non-defining (Non-restrictive) Relative Clause

Gives extra information about a noun already clearly identified. Use commas.

Example: My teacher, who is from Iran, loves teaching.
(Extra info; teacher already known.)

Relative Pronoun Quick Guide

  • who → people (subject)
  • whom → people (object, formal)
  • which → things, animals
  • that → people or things (especially defining clauses)
  • whose → possession (people/things)
  • where/when → places / times

Examples Using Our Pronunciation Topic

Defining: The house that has a big garage is mine. (Essential: which house?)
Non-defining: My neighbour, who has lived here for 20 years, keeps his garage tidy.

Practice Exercises

1 Combine sentences using relative clauses (defining):
  • The mechanic is famous. He fixed my car. → The mechanic who fixed my car is famous.
  • I bought a garage. The garage is small. → I bought a garage which is small / that is small.
2 Add commas where necessary (non-defining):
  • My teacher who lives near the station is kind. → My teacher, who lives near the station, is kind.
  • The garage which we rented last year was cheap. (Keep or add commas depending on meaning.)
3 Create relative clauses about garage (spoken practice):
  • Describe a garage that you like. Use defining relative clauses.
  • Tell a short story about a neighbor, using a non-defining relative clause to give extra info.
Tip: Encourage Mahmood to say the full sentence aloud and then repeat it focusing on stress and linking (e.g., “the gar-age that has…” — watch the junction between words).

3. Combined Activities — Pronunciation + Relative Clauses

A Spot & Fix: Teacher reads aloud 6 sentences mixing US/UK pronunciations and relative clauses. Student identifies which pronunciation and whether the relative clause is defining/non-defining.
B Record & Improve: Student records a short 30–45s answer: “Describe your garage or a house with a garage.” Teacher gives feedback on (1) pronunciation of garage, (2) correct use of relative clauses, (3) stress & rhythm.
C Homework: Find 3 words that differ in US/UK pronunciation (e.g., schedule, tomato, advertisement) and write 2 sentences for each using at least one relative clause.

📚 Weekly Homework Assignment – LifeStyles & Grammar Review

Complete these tasks over the next 7 days. Each day focuses on different skills from our textbook and lesson content.

Day 1: Home & Lifestyle Vocabulary

1a Personal Reflection – “What does home mean to you?”

Write 150 words about your favorite rooms, smells, views, special objects and your feelings about home. Use relative clauses to add detail.

Example start: “My home, which is located in the city center, means comfort and safety to me. The kitchen where my family gathers is my favorite room…”
1b Vocabulary Categorization

Place these words in the correct categories from your textbook:

Words to categorize:

an apartment, a cellar, a commercial district, a fireplace, a garden, a garage, a gate, a park and playground, a studio flat, the suburbs

Categories:
  • House: A) I live in… B) It’s got…
  • Area/Neighbourhood: C) I live in… D) It’s got…

Day 2: Property Descriptions & Pronunciation

2a Property Analysis

Read the property descriptions from your textbook (Property 1 in Seville & Property 2 Victorian house). Practice saying “garage” in both US and UK pronunciation when you encounter it.

2b Describe Your Living Space

Complete this sentence using the textbook model: “I live in a block of flats. It’s quite modern. It has a…”

Write 3 sentences about where you live, including at least 2 relative clauses.

Day 3-4: Grammar Focus – Relative Clauses in Context

3a Property Descriptions with Relative Clauses

Rewrite these property features using relative clauses:

  • The apartment is bright and comfortable. It’s in Seville. → The apartment which is in Seville is bright and comfortable.
  • The Victorian house has four bedrooms. It’s ideal for families. → The Victorian house that has four bedrooms is ideal for families.
  • The property has a garage. The garage is mentioned in both US/UK pronunciation. → The property which has a garage offers parking space.
3b Area Descriptions

Use the textbook vocabulary to complete sentences about different areas:

  • I live in a residential area _________ (add relative clause)
  • The commercial district _________ (add relative clause)
  • My neighborhood, _________ (add non-defining relative clause), is very quiet.

Day 5: Combined Practice – Home Exchange Project

4a Home Exchange Description

Based on the textbook theme “We help families to exchange homes with other families,” write a 150-word description of your home for a home exchange website. Include:

  • 3-4 relative clauses (mix defining and non-defining)
  • Vocabulary from the textbook exercises
  • Mention your garage/parking (practice pronunciation)
  • Description of your area/neighborhood
Model start: “Our family home, which is located in a quiet residential area, would be perfect for your holiday…”

Day 6: Speaking & Pronunciation

5a Property Tour Recording

Record a 2-minute “virtual tour” of your home using:

  • Textbook vocabulary (apartment, cellar, garden, garage, etc.)
  • At least 5 relative clauses
  • Clear pronunciation of “garage” (choose US or UK style consistently)
5b Neighborhood Description

Prepare to describe your area using phrases from the textbook:

  • “I live in…” (residential area/city center/suburbs)
  • “It’s got…” (shops, restaurants, green spaces, etc.)
  • Add relative clauses for extra detail

Day 7: Review & Assessment

6a Vocabulary Review

Create your own sentences using these text

Complete these tasks over the next 7 days. Spend 15-20 minutes daily on different activities.

Day 1-2: Pronunciation Practice

1 Accent Detective: Find 5 words that have different US/UK pronunciations (examples: schedule, tomato, advertisement, laboratory, privacy). Record yourself saying each word in both accents.
2 Listening Challenge: Watch a 5-minute YouTube video with American accent, then the same topic with British accent. Note 3 pronunciation differences you hear.

Day 3-4: Relative Clauses in Context

3 Sentence Building: Write 8 sentences about your daily life using relative clauses:
  • 4 defining relative clauses (no commas)
  • 4 non-defining relative clauses (with commas)
Example: The coffee shop that I visit daily has excellent tea. (defining)
Example: My morning routine, which includes reading news, takes 30 minutes. (non-defining)
4 Error Correction: Fix these sentences (comma placement and pronoun choice):
  • My teacher who lives in Tehran is very kind. ✗
  • The book which I’m reading it is fascinating. ✗
  • The house where I grew up there was small. ✗

Day 5-6: Integration Practice

5 Garage Story: Write a 100-word story about someone’s garage. Include:
  • Use “garage” at least 3 times (practice both US/UK pronunciation)
  • Include 3 relative clauses
  • Mix defining and non-defining clauses
6 Voice Recording: Record yourself reading your garage story. Focus on:
  • Clear pronunciation of “garage” (choose US or UK consistently)
  • Proper stress and intonation in relative clauses
  • Natural linking between words

Day 7: Review & Reflection

7 Self-Assessment:
  • Review all your work from the week
  • Identify 2 areas where you improved
  • Note 1 area that still needs practice
  • Prepare 3 questions about relative clauses or pronunciation to ask next lesson
8 Mini Presentation: Prepare a 2-minute talk about “My Neighborhood” using:
  • At least 5 relative clauses
  • Proper US or UK pronunciation throughout
  • Clear, confident delivery
Submission Guidelines:
• Bring written work to next lesson
• Be ready to share your voice recordings
• Prepare your mini presentation for class
• Keep a vocabulary journal of new words learned this week

Bonus Challenge (Optional)

★ Accent Analysis: Choose a famous English speaker (actor, politician, etc.) and analyze their accent. Write 3 sentences about them using relative clauses, noting whether they use American or British pronunciation patterns.
Ben Siran Academy
Good luck, Mahmood! This lesson combines pronunciation awareness with advanced grammar structures.
Remember: practice makes progress, not perfection! 🎯

Weekly homework designed for steady progress. Contact me if you need clarification on any task.
Garage Pronunciation & Relative Clauses FAQs

US: /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ (guh-RAHZH), stress on second syllable, “zh” ending. UK: /ˈɡær.ɪdʒ/ (GARR-idge) or /ˈɡær.ɑːʒ/ (GAH-rahzh), stress on first, ends in “-idge” or “-ahzh.”

Defining: Essential info, no commas, e.g., “The house that has a garage is mine.” Non-defining: Extra info, uses commas, e.g., “My neighbour, who loves cars, has a garage.”

Create sentences like “The garage that I use is big,” and say them in US/UK accents. Record a home tour or story using “garage” and relative clauses, focusing on stress.

7-day plan: Write about home using relative clauses, categorize vocab, rewrite property descriptions, record a home tour, write a garage story, and prepare a neighborhood talk. Includes self-assessment and optional accent analysis.