Identifying relative clauses
Use who or that for people; Use which or that for things; Use where for a location relation; Use which/that when a place is the subject or direct object of the clause; Put the identifying clause directly after its noun and avoid a repeated object pronoun.
1. Choose the best relative word: The woman _____ repaired my bike is my neighbour.
Multiple Choice20sAwho✓BwhereCwhatDwhen💡 Who introduces an identifying relative clause about a person.
2. An identifying relative clause gives essential information about which person, thing or place we mean.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 The clause is defining because the main noun cannot be fully identified without it.
3. Complete with one relative word from the unit: This is the cafe _____ we first met.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhere💡 Where is used for a place when the clause describes an event happening there.
4. Which sentence correctly describes a house as the direct object of bought?
Multiple Choice20sAThis is the house that we bought.✓BThis is the house where we bought.CThis is the house who we bought.DThis is the house what we bought it.💡 A place used as the direct object takes which/that, not where.
5. Match each noun phrase to a suitable identifying clause.
Matching30sthe nurse→who helped my fatherthe laptop→that stopped workingthe cafe→where we had lunchthe houses→which face the park💡 Who identifies people, which/that identify things, and where identifies a location relation.
6. Complete with the wh- relative word for a person: The boy _____ called earlier is waiting outside.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwho💡 Who is the wh- relative word used to introduce an identifying clause about a person.
7. Put the chunks in order so the relative clause follows the noun it identifies.
Put in Order30s- 1.The room
- 2.where I work
- 3.is
- 4.very bright.
💡 An identifying relative clause must come immediately after its noun phrase.
8. Which sentence avoids an unnecessary repeated object pronoun?
Multiple Choice20sAThat's the teacher who I met yesterday.✓BThat's the teacher who I met her yesterday.CThat's the teacher where I met yesterday.DThat's the teacher which I met him yesterday.💡 When the relative pronoun is the object, do not add another object pronoun.
9. We use where for every relative clause after a place noun, even when the place is the direct object.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The relative-word rule depends on the place noun's role inside the clause.
10. Complete with the wh- relative word for a thing: The camera _____ she uses for work is very light.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhich💡 Which is the wh- relative word used to introduce an identifying clause about a thing.
11. Which sentence correctly leaves the preposition at the end of the relative clause?
Multiple Choice20sAStephen is the colleague that I share an office with.✓BStephen is the colleague that I share with him an office.CStephen is the colleague where I share an office with.DStephen is the colleague which I share an office him.💡 A linked preposition can remain at the end, without a repeated object pronoun.
12. Match each relative word to its clearest use in this unit.
Matching30swho→people onlywhich→things onlythat→people or thingswhere→a location relation💡 The identifying-clause system distinguishes people, things and location relations.
13. Complete with the wh- relative word: The room _____ we sleep in is at the back of the house.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhich💡 The room is the object of sleep in, so the wh- relative word for a thing is which.
14. An identifying relative clause normally comes immediately after the noun phrase it identifies.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 Immediate placement keeps the identifying information attached to the correct noun.
15. Combine the ideas correctly: I know a mechanic. She fixes electric cars.
Multiple Choice20sAI know a mechanic who fixes electric cars.✓BI know a mechanic where fixes electric cars.CI know a mechanic who she fixes electric cars.DI know who a mechanic fixes electric cars.💡 Who replaces the person subject in the identifying clause; no extra she is used.
16. Put the chunks in order so the person and identifying clause stay together.
Put in Order30s- 1.The artist
- 2.who painted this mural
- 3.lives
- 4.near our school.
💡 The who-clause directly follows the person noun phrase it identifies.
17. Complete with one relative word from the unit: We visited the village _____ my grandmother grew up.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhere💡 Where expresses the location in which she grew up.
18. Which relative clause is correct when gallery is the direct object of visited?
Multiple Choice20sAthe gallery that we visited✓Bthe gallery where we visitedCthe gallery who we visited itDthe gallery what visited us💡 A place used as direct object takes that/which, and no repeated it.
19. When who is the object of an identifying clause, we must add him or her after the verb.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The no-repeated-object rule gives the teacher who I met, not who I met her.
20. Complete with the wh- relative word for people: The neighbours _____ live upstairs are moving next month.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwho💡 Who is the wh- relative word for people and acts as the subject of live.