Relative clauses
identifying and non-identifying relative clauses; who, which, that, whom and whose; omission of object relative pronouns; commas in non-identifying clauses; prepositions at the end or formally before whom and which.
1. Dr Shah, _____ developed the new sensor, will speak at the conference.
Multiple Choice20sAwho✓BthatCwhoseDwhom💡 A non-identifying clause about a person uses who and is separated by commas.
2. In an identifying relative clause, that can often replace who or which.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 That can refer to people or things in identifying clauses.
3. We interviewed a designer _____ products have won several awards.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhose💡 Whose introduces a relative clause expressing possession.
4. Which identifying relative clause correctly omits an object pronoun?
Multiple Choice20sAThe report I sent yesterday contains the latest data.✓BThe report which sent yesterday contains the latest data.CThe report who I sent yesterday contains the latest data.DThe report I sent it yesterday contains the latest data.💡 The omitted pronoun would be the object of sent, so omission is possible.
5. Match each relative form to its usual function.
Matching30swho→personwhich→thingwhose→possessionwhom→person as object in formal stylethat→person or thing in an identifying clause💡 Each relative form has a characteristic reference or grammatical role.
6. The town library, _____ was renovated last year, now stays open until midnight.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhich💡 A non-identifying clause about a thing uses which, not that.
7. Put the chunks in order to make an identifying relative clause.
Put in Order30s- 1.The app
- 2.that tracks
- 3.my sleep
- 4.has stopped
- 5.working.
💡 That introduces an identifying clause in which it is the subject of tracks.
8. Which version is most formal?
Multiple Choice20sAThe applicant to whom I spoke was well qualified.✓BThe applicant who I spoke to was well qualified.CThe applicant that I spoke to was well qualified.DThe applicant I spoke to was well qualified.💡 A preposition before whom creates a formal relative-clause structure.
9. A subject relative pronoun can always be omitted from an identifying clause.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The subject is needed in a clause such as the engineer who designed the bridge.
10. Include a relative pronoun: We need software _____ can detect duplicate files.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhich · that💡 Which or that can be the subject of an identifying clause about a thing.
11. Which sentence correctly punctuates a non-identifying relative clause?
Multiple Choice20sAMy aunt, who lives in Bristol, is visiting this weekend.✓BMy aunt who, lives in Bristol is visiting this weekend.CMy aunt that lives in Bristol, is visiting this weekend.DMy aunt who lives in Bristol is, visiting this weekend.💡 The extra information is set off with a pair of commas.
12. Match each sentence beginning to the correct relative-clause ending.
Matching30sThe analyst who→prepared the forecast is here.The forecast, which→was revised yesterday, is online.The client whose→account was affected has called.The issue that→caused the delay has been fixed.The colleague to whom→I sent the file has replied.💡 Each ending agrees with the relative word's reference and grammatical function.
13. The committee member to _____ you addressed the complaint has responded.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhom💡 Whom is required directly after a preposition when referring to a person.
14. In everyday English, it is common to leave a preposition at the end of a relative clause.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 The book I was looking for is a normal everyday structure.
15. Choose the only suitable relative word: The Eden Project, _____ attracts thousands of visitors, opened in 2001.
Multiple Choice20sAwhich✓BthatCwhatDwhose💡 A non-identifying clause about a thing uses which; that is not used here.
16. Reorder the chunks to make a sentence with whose.
Put in Order30s- 1.This is
- 2.the consultant
- 3.whose advice
- 4.helped us
- 5.most.
💡 Whose links the consultant with the possessed noun advice.
17. Professor Li, _____ leads the research team, has received an international prize.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwho💡 Who introduces a non-identifying clause about a person.
18. Which form cannot follow a preposition placed before the relative pronoun?
Multiple Choice20sAthat✓BwhomCwhichDwhose💡 A preposition cannot be placed immediately before that.
19. An object relative pronoun may be left out of a non-identifying relative clause.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Omission is limited to object pronouns in identifying clauses.
20. Include a relative pronoun: The headphones _____ I bought last month have already stopped working.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhich · that💡 Which or that can introduce an identifying clause where the pronoun is the object of bought.