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Unit 2.2 · B1 Grammar

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.

Teacher mode — correct answers are highlighted. Students never see this.
  1. 1. Choose the best relative word: The woman _____ repaired my bike is my neighbour.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Awho✓
    Bwhere
    Cwhat
    Dwhen

    💡 Who introduces an identifying relative clause about a person.

  2. 2. An identifying relative clause gives essential information about which person, thing or place we mean.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 The clause is defining because the main noun cannot be fully identified without it.

  3. 3. Complete with one relative word from the unit: This is the cafe _____ we first met.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    where

    💡 Where is used for a place when the clause describes an event happening there.

  4. 4. Which sentence correctly describes a house as the direct object of bought?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AThis 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. 5. Match each noun phrase to a suitable identifying clause.

    Matching30s
    the nurse→who helped my father
    the laptop→that stopped working
    the cafe→where we had lunch
    the houses→which face the park

    💡 Who identifies people, which/that identify things, and where identifies a location relation.

  6. 6. Complete with the wh- relative word for a person: The boy _____ called earlier is waiting outside.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    who

    💡 Who is the wh- relative word used to introduce an identifying clause about a person.

  7. 7. Put the chunks in order so the relative clause follows the noun it identifies.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.The room
    2. 2.where I work
    3. 3.is
    4. 4.very bright.

    💡 An identifying relative clause must come immediately after its noun phrase.

  8. 8. Which sentence avoids an unnecessary repeated object pronoun?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AThat'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. 9. We use where for every relative clause after a place noun, even when the place is the direct object.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 The relative-word rule depends on the place noun's role inside the clause.

  10. 10. Complete with the wh- relative word for a thing: The camera _____ she uses for work is very light.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    which

    💡 Which is the wh- relative word used to introduce an identifying clause about a thing.

  11. 11. Which sentence correctly leaves the preposition at the end of the relative clause?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AStephen 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. 12. Match each relative word to its clearest use in this unit.

    Matching30s
    who→people only
    which→things only
    that→people or things
    where→a location relation

    💡 The identifying-clause system distinguishes people, things and location relations.

  13. 13. Complete with the wh- relative word: The room _____ we sleep in is at the back of the house.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    which

    💡 The room is the object of sleep in, so the wh- relative word for a thing is which.

  14. 14. An identifying relative clause normally comes immediately after the noun phrase it identifies.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 Immediate placement keeps the identifying information attached to the correct noun.

  15. 15. Combine the ideas correctly: I know a mechanic. She fixes electric cars.

    Multiple Choice20s
    AI 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. 16. Put the chunks in order so the person and identifying clause stay together.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.The artist
    2. 2.who painted this mural
    3. 3.lives
    4. 4.near our school.

    💡 The who-clause directly follows the person noun phrase it identifies.

  17. 17. Complete with one relative word from the unit: We visited the village _____ my grandmother grew up.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    where

    💡 Where expresses the location in which she grew up.

  18. 18. Which relative clause is correct when gallery is the direct object of visited?

    Multiple Choice20s
    Athe gallery that we visited✓
    Bthe gallery where we visited
    Cthe gallery who we visited it
    Dthe gallery what visited us

    💡 A place used as direct object takes that/which, and no repeated it.

  19. 19. When who is the object of an identifying clause, we must add him or her after the verb.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 The no-repeated-object rule gives the teacher who I met, not who I met her.

  20. 20. Complete with the wh- relative word for people: The neighbours _____ live upstairs are moving next month.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    who

    💡 Who is the wh- relative word for people and acts as the subject of live.