homework for relative clauses

Relative Clauses – Free Exercise

Select the correct relative pronoun.

• The children are collecting the leaves   which who whose have fallen from the trees. not a person → which
• The boy   which who whose watch had stopped didn’t know that he was late. possession/belonging → whose
• Linda,   which who whose is out in the open all day, never catches a cold. person → who
• You should not drive a car   which who whose brakes don’t work! possession/belonging → whose
• The man   which who whose is getting on the bus now is our history teacher. person → who

Select the correct relative adverb.

• Last year, we travelled around Scotland,   when where which why was great fun. refers to the entire clause (travelling around Scotland was great fun) → which
• The weather was okay   when where which why we went there. time (when was the weather okay) → when
• And the hostels   when where which why we stayed were great. place (the hostels) → where
• That’s the reason   when where which why I want to go to Scotland again next year. reason → why
• I am looking forward to the day   when where which why my next holidays begin. time (the day) → when

Complete the relative clauses. In some of the sentences, you can leave off the relative pronoun.

• This car belongs to a woman. Where is the woman? → Where is the woman   ? We don’t need a relative pronoun, because the first word in the relative clause is not a verb. We can use who/that or whom , though. If we choose whom, the preposition to must move to the beginning of the relative clause.
• I bought a yoghurt yesterday. Did you eat it? → Did you eat the yoghurt   ? We don’t need a relative pronoun, because the first word in the relative clause is not a verb. We can use which or that, though.
• Amy has a cat. The eyes of the cat are blue. → Amy has a cat   . Here we need the relative pronoun whose , because we’re talking about possession/belonging (the cat’s eyes)
• My brother wants to sell his bike. It is as good as new. → My brother wants to sell his bike,   . Here we need the relative pronoun which , because it is a non-defining relative clause and the first word after the pronoun is a verb.
• I told you about a friend. There she is. → There is the friend   . We don’t need a relative pronoun, because the first word in the relative clause is not a verb. We can use who or that, though.

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Worksheets - handouts

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Worksheets - pdf exercises

• Relative clauses - pdf quiz
• Relative pronouns - pdf exercises 
• Relative clauses - worksheets
• Relative clauses - worksheet
• Relative clauses - pdf exercises
• Relative clauses 
• Relative clauses - pdf handout
• Relative clauses - exercises
• Defining relative clauses - 1
• Defining relative clauses - 2
• Defining relative clauses - 3
• Defining relative clauses - 4
• Combine the two sentences 1  
• Combine the two sentences 2 
• Relative clauses - sentences 
• Defining relative clauses
• Defining / non-defining clauses
• Defining and non-defining relative clauses
• Defining and non-defining clauses
• Who / whom - worksheets
• Worksheets pdf - print
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Grammar lessons / rules

• What is a relative clause ?
• Relative pronouns in English

• B1-B2 grammar

Relative clauses: defining relative clauses

Do you know how to define who or what you are talking about using relative clauses? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how defining relative clauses are used.

Are you the one who sent me the email? The phone which has the most features is also the most expensive. This is the video that I wanted to show you. The person they spoke to was really helpful.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar B1-B2: Relative clauses – defining relative clauses: 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. 

Defining relative clauses give us essential information – information that tells us who or what we are talking about.

The woman who lives next door works in a bank.  These are the flights that have been cancelled .

We usually use a relative pronoun or adverb to start a defining relative clause: who , which , that , when , where or whose .

We can use who or that to talk about people. that is more common and a bit more informal.

She's the woman who cuts my hair. He's the man that I met at the conference.

which / that  

We can use which or that to talk about things. that is more common and a bit more informal.

There was a one-year guarantee which came with the TV. The laptop that I bought last week has started making a strange noise!

Other pronouns

when can refer to a time.

Summer is the season when I'm happiest.

where can refer to a place.

That's the stadium where Real Madrid play.

whose refers to the person that something belongs to.

He's a musician whose albums have sold millions. 

Omitting the relative pronoun

Sometimes we can leave out the relative pronoun. For example, we can usually leave out who , which or that if it is followed by a subject.

The assistant [that] we met was really kind.    ( we  = subject, can omit  that )

We can't usually leave it out if it is followed by a verb.

The assistant that helped us was really kind.    ( helped  = verb, can't omit  that )

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar B1-B2: Relative clauses – defining relative clauses: 2

Language level

I have a question about changing a/an to the in some relative clauses.

eg. Our principal wants to see an architect. He designed our school library. ans. Our principal wants to see "the" architect who designed our school library.

why we need to convert the "an" to "the"?

eg. I met an old lady. She was one hundred and two years old. ans. I met "an" old lady who was one hundred and two years old.

why we do not need to convert that "an" to "the"

there are more eg for not converting the "a/an" to "the" -There was a one-year guarantee which came with the TV. -He is a musician whose albums have sold millions. -He called a plumber who he found online. -They ate at a restaurant that serves only vegan dishes. -We found a shop that sold old records.

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Using "the" normally means that the speaker thinks the listener knows which particular thing he/she is referring to. Often, this is because there is only one of that thing existing in that local context.

• Our principal wants to see the  architect who designed our school library . (The listener knows which person this refers to, because only one person was the designer of the library. There is only one possible person that the sentence refers to.)

If you say this:

• I met the  old lady who was one hundred and two years old.

It means that there is only one old lady of that age in this local context, and both the speaker and listener know that. Maybe she is a famous old lady in that town, for example. The sentence is grammatically fine. However, in ordinary circumstances, we probably do not know for sure that there is only one lady of that age, and the speaker probably cannot assume that the listener knows who the old lady is. So, it's more likely to say:

• I met an  old lady who was one hundred and two years old . (There may be other ladies of the same age; the speaker does not assume that listener knows which lady it is)

Often, when the speaker mentions something for the first time in the conversation, the speaker will use "a/an" if he/she introduces some new information (e.g., "I met an old lady" - it's a new conversation topic) and the speaker thinks the listener doesn't know which exact person/thing it refers to.

About your other examples:

• There was a one-year guarantee which came with the TV.  (It seems like newly-introduced information; the listener does not know which guarantee it refers to)
• He is a musician whose albums have sold millions.  (He is not the only one; apart from him, other musicians have also sold millions)
• He called a plumber who he found online. (This plumber is not the only one who can be contacted online; so the listener does not know which exact plumber it refers to)
• They ate at a restaurant that serves only vegan dishes.  (This restaurant is not the only one that serves vegan dishes; so the listener does not know which exact restaurant it refers to)
• We found a shop that sold old records.  (This shop is not the only one that sells old records; so the listener does not know which exact shop it refers to.)

Again, you could use "the" in any of these sentences, if there is only one thing in that context (e.g.  We found the shop that sold old records  - if there is only one shop selling old records in that town) and you assume that the listener knows this too.

I hope that helps to understand it.

LearnEnglish team

''the restaurant .... we often go to overlooks a beautiful lake'' -which - where What should I choose? and why I should use it

Hello thebaongoc,

The correct answer here is 'which' because you have the preposition 'to' in the sentence. We can say 'to which' but not 'to where'.

If you remove 'to' then 'where' is possible:

the restaurant which we often go to overlooks a beautiful lake the restaurant where we often go overlooks a beautiful lake

The LearnEnglish Team

They ate at a restaurant ___ serves only vegan dishes. that where which –

Why "where" is wrong. We refer to a place actually!

Hi Ali_H_Ahmad001,

We do use "where" to refer to a place, but it introduces a clause (i.e., a subject and a verb). So, if you want to use "where" in this sentence, it should be:

• They ate at a restaurant where they serve  only vegan dishes . ( where + subject + verb)

We can also think of a restaurant (or any other place) as a thing, so it's also correct to say:

• They ate at a restaurant that/which serves only vegan dishes. ( that/which + verb)

Grammar confusions with the following sentences: 1. Don't drink more (wine) than is good for your health. 2. There are few books on the shelf but I know. 3. He drinks more than expects.

Questions: 1. Is sentence 1 a relative clause, based on the grammar system? 2. Can "than" be a relativizer to introduce a relative clause? And are there any other less common relativizers except common ones like: that, which, who, when, where, pre+whom, whose+n, why. 3. Analyze the sentences listed grammatically plz, especially on what kind of clause they belong to. I was told by some expert that sentences 1&2 were both relative clauses where "than" and "but" function as relativizers since they introduce the subordinate clause, complete the subordinate clause as subject or object. But i just think: sentence 2 is just a compound sentence with one object omitted, and sentence 3 is an adverbial clause with both subject and object in subcordinate clause omitted, based on some conventions of English. Sentence 1 is just intuitively correct but grammatically incomprehensible to me, and I can accept it as a relative clause introduced by "than" reluctantly.

Hello Pershing,

1. This construction (than + verb phrase without a subject) is one which generates a lot of debate. For example:

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/19423/he-does-more-than-is-necessary

The construction is only used with the verb 'be' (here: 'is'). You cannot replace it with any other verb, though it doesn't have to be an adjective following it. For example:

Don't eat more than is on the plate. To make a good impression you should stay longer than is required.

To make a good impression you should stay longer than you really want. [the second 'you' is needed here]

Since the construction only works in such narrow bounds I would be minded to see it as an atypical but correct form.

Sentence 2 does not appear correct to me. You should use 'that' or 'which' in place of 'but'. Alternatively, you could say '...but this I know.' However, this changes the meaning.

Sentence 3 is also not correct. You need a subject ('...than he expects', for example). Unless, that is, you want to say 'He drinks more than (he) expects', in the sense that the amount of drinking he does is greater than the amount of expecting he does. This would be a rather odd statement but possible. In this case 'than' is functioning as a conjunction.

2. No. See above for the explanation of 'that' in sentence 1.

3. I think I've summarised the constructions above.

Hello I have a sentence

Surgery that/which involves removing a tumour is not an example of cosmetic surgery.

Here 'that' and 'which', which one is grammatically correct in this sentence? And what is the difference between 'that' and 'which' in this sentence and other places? of course, for relative clauses.

Hi Tokhish,

They are both grammatically correct. Generally, as relative pronouns they are interchangeable. However, only "that" (not "which") can substitute for "who". Also, "which" is slightly more formal-sounding than "that", but it's not a huge difference.

I hope that helps.

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Relative Clause Exercises

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Here's a list of all the relative clause exercises on the site.

• Defining Relative Clauses 1 ( in PDF here )
• Defining Relative Clauses 2 ( in PDF here )
• Defining Relative Clauses 3 ( in PDF here )
• Defining Relative Clauses 4 ( in PDF here )

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Relative Clauses + Exercises

Learn Relative Clauses with Examples and Exercises

What is a Relative Clause?

A relative clause is a phrase that adds information to a sentence. All relative clauses describe a noun, and they begin with one of these relative pronouns or relative adverbs.

Relative Pronouns

• who (to describe people – subject) The woman who works in the bank is my neighbor.
• whom (to describe people – object) My cousins, one of whom is a doctor, live in England.
• whose (to describe possession) The man whose car was stolen went to the police station.
• that (to describe things – defining relative clauses) I’m selling the computer that I bought in the U.S.
• which (to describe things – non-defining relative clauses) I’m selling this computer, which has a 250-GB hard drive, for $500.

Relative Adverbs

• when (to describe times) My favorite season is fall, when all the leaves change color.
• where (to describe places) I visited the neighborhood where I grew up
• why (to give a reason) Do you know the reason why the stores are closed today?

Using relative clauses helps you create better sentences in English

Relative Clauses = Better Sentences in English

Here is an example of some English sentences without relative clauses:

• Yesterday I met a man. He works in the circus.
• I bought a cell phone. It has internet access.
• There’s the restaurant. I ate at that restaurant last night.

These sentences are correct, but they are very short and simple. You can use relative clauses to make your sentences in English sound more fluent and natural:

• Yesterday I met a man who works in the circus.
• I bought a cell phone that has internet access.
• There’s the restaurant where I ate last night.

Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses add EXTRA information to the sentence.

Defining relative clauses add ESSENTIAL information to the sentence.

You can see if a relative clause is defining or non-defining by removing it from the sentence. If you remove a non-defining relative clause, the sentence still has the same meaning. If you remove a defining relative clause, the sentence has a different meaning or is incomplete.

Example of a sentence with a NON-DEFINING relative clause:

• My brother, who lives in California, is an engineer.

If you remove “who lives in California,” the sentence still has the same meaning:

• My brother is an engineer.

Example of a sentence with a DEFINING relative clause:

• That’s the student who failed English class three times.

If you remove “who failed English class three times,” the sentence is incomplete:

• That’s the student.

Therefore, the relative clause “who failed English class three times” is essential information, because it defines which student, specifically, we are talking about.

In written English, use a comma before and after non-defining relative clauses.

Learn when to use “which” and “that” in relative clauses

Which or That?

Use which for non-defining relative clauses, and use a comma before it.

Use that for defining relative clauses, and don’t use a comma before it.

• The bananas that I bought on Monday are rotten.
• The bananas, which I bought on Monday, are rotten.

In the first case, it’s possible that we have two types of bananas in the house:

• Older bananas that I bought on Monday
• Newer bananas that I bought on Wednesday

…and that only the first bananas are rotten, but the second bananas are not rotten.

In the second case, all the bananas in the house were bought on Monday, and they are all rotten.

Again, to decide if a clause is defining or non-defining, try removing it from the sentence:

• I read all the books that I borrowed from the library. Without clause: I read all the books. (sentence is incomplete – WHAT books?)
• The new Stephen King book, which I borrowed from the library, is very good. Without clause: The new Stephen King book is very good. (sentence is complete. The “library” part was only an extra detail)

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Relative Clauses

This handout will help you understand what relative clauses are and how they work, and will especially help you decide when to use “that” or “which.”

What is a relative clause?

A relative clause is one kind of dependent clause. It has a subject and verb, but can’t stand alone as a sentence. It is sometimes called an “adjective clause” because it functions like an adjective—it gives more information about a noun. A relative clause always begins with a “relative pronoun,” which substitutes for a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun when sentences are combined.

The relative pronouns are:

Relative pronoun as subject (in red):

I like the person. The person was nice to me.

I like the person who was nice to me.

I hate the dog. The dog bit me.

I hate the dog that bit me.

I am moving to Louisville, KY. It is home to the Muhammad Ali Museum.

I am moving to Louisville, KY, which is home to the Muhammad Ali Museum.

Relative pronoun as object (in red):

I like the bike. My father gave me the bike .

I like the bike that my father gave me.

Restrictive Relative Clauses

Restrictive relative clauses give information that defines the noun—information that’s necessary for complete identification of the noun. Use “that” or “which” for non-human nouns; use “that” or “who” for human nouns. Do not use commas.

I like the paintings. (Which paintings? We can’t clearly identify them without the relative clause.)

So we add the clause:

The paintings hang in the SASB North lobby.

I like the paintings that hang in the SASB North lobby.

I like the paintings which hang in the SASB North lobby. (Again, this is acceptable, but some people object to using “which” in a restrictive relative clause. “That” is preferred.)

Students who study hard will do well in my class. (Only this group of students will do well.)

Students whose grades are low can drop one test score. (Only this group can drop a test score.)

When the noun is the object of the preposition, both the noun and the preposition move together to the front of the relative clause. In less formal English, it’s common to move only the pronoun to the front of the clause.

I spent hours talking with a person last night. I hope to hear from her.

I hope I hear from the person with whom I spent hours talking last night. (more formal)

I hope to hear from the person whom I spent hours talking with last night. (less formal)

Non-restrictive relative clauses

This type of relative clause merely provides extra information. The information may be quite interesting and important to the larger conversation, but it is not essential for precise identification of the noun. “That” cannot be used as a relative pronoun in a non-restrictive relative clause. Commas are always used at the beginning and end of this type of relative clause.

A non-restrictive relative clause can modify a single noun, a noun phrase, or an entire proposition.

My mother is thinking of opening a restaurant. My mother is an excellent cook.

“My mother” is already a clearly defined noun, so the second sentence becomes a non-restrictive relative clause set off by commas on both sides.

My mother , who is an excellent cook , is thinking of opening a restaurant.

I’m planning to grow roses. I find roses quite beautiful.

I’m planning to grow roses , which I find quite beautiful.

(not okay) I’m planning to grow roses, that I find quite beautiful.

I’m driving across the country with three small children.

Driving across the country with three small children is going to be stressful.

I’m driving across the country with three small children , which is going to be stressful.

Reducing relative clauses

Some types of relative clauses can be “reduced”— the relative pronoun and maybe other words can be removed. You might reduce the clause to make your writing more concise or to add sentence variety. We’ll use the examples above to demonstrate how to reduce both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.

Restrictive relative clauses can be reduced in two ways.

Subject pronouns can be deleted if –ing is added to the verb.

I like the paintings hanging in the SASB North lobby.

Object pronouns can be deleted.

I like the bike my father gave me.

Non-restrictive relative clauses can be reduced in one way.

Subject pronouns with “be” verbs can be deleted in non-restrictive clauses.

>I am moving to Louisville, KY, which is home to the Muhammad Ali Museum.

I am moving to Louisville, KY, home to the Muhammad Ali Museum.

My mother, who is an excellent cook, is thinking of opening a restaurant.

My mother, an excellent cook, is thinking of opening a restaurant.

Subject-verb agreement in relative clauses

Remember that the relative pronoun is substituting for a noun, which could be singular or plural before the substitution. The verb in the relative clause must agree with the original noun.

People are lucky. People win the lottery.

People who win the lottery are lucky. (plural verb)

A person is lucky. She wins the lottery every year.

A person who wins the lottery every year is lucky. (singular verb)

Agreement can be tricky in “one of the…” constructions. The key is to find which noun the relative pronoun is referring to.

Homelessness is a problem. The problem needs to be addressed.

Homelessness is a problem that needs to be addressed. (singular problem)

Many problems need to be addressed. Homelessness is one of the problems.

Homelessness is one of the problems that need to be addressed. (plural problems)

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Printable Relative Clauses Exercises - 84 PDF Worksheets with Answers

Defining and Non Defining Relative Clauses (which/where/whose/who/whom) Printable PDF Worksheet Tests with Exercises and Answers

Access a collection of 84 printable PDF worksheets focusing on the English grammar topic of the relative clauses . Download fill-in-the-blank tests with exercises and answer keys for defining and non defining relative clauses (which/where/whose/who/whom) to print for free. The activities in the sheets are suitable for kids, adults, ESL learners at the beginner, elementary, and intermediate levels to practice English grammar.

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Relative Clauses: Definition, Examples, & Exercises

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Dependent clauses come in three types: noun clauses, relative clauses, and adverb clauses. 

Noun clauses replace other nouns in a sentence, but relative and adverb clauses modify words already in the sentence rather than removing and replacing them. 

Noun clauses replace subjects, objects, or subject complements in sentences. 

For example: 

• Biobots are changing how we think of robots .

In the sentence above, the noun clause how we think of robots is acting as the direct object, answering the question “ changing what ? ”

Relative clauses are dependent clauses that give the reader more information about another noun in the sentence.

• The unicorn possessed magical powers, which could heal the sick .

In this sentence, the relative clause which could heal the sick modifies the subject, unicorn, by identifying which magical powers it possessed.

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that modify or give more information about a verb in the sentence.

• When they are awake , they usually don’t travel more than 40 yards per day.

In this sentence, the adverb clause when they are awake modifies the verb travel by showing when the action of the sentence took place.

For this post, we will focus on relative clauses , but you can learn more about noun clauses and adverb clauses on the Albert blog.

When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz  and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here .

What We Review

The Basics of Relative Clauses

What is a Relative Clause? 

A relative clause is a dependent clause that can modify any noun in the independent clause. Relative clauses always start with relative pronouns and must connect to an independent clause to create a complete thought. 

For example:

• I scheduled an interview with her mother, who is the CEO of a prominent banking institution .

In this sentence, the relative clause who is the CEO of a prominent banking institution modifies the object of the prepositional phrase, with her mother.

What are the two types of Relative Clauses? 

Relative clauses answer one of two questions when it comes to modifying a noun in the independent clause: which one or what kind? Additionally, different relative pronouns are used when referring to either people or things. 

1. Which One/What Kind: People

The relative pronouns who, whom, and whose are used in relative clauses to modify people . 

• My friend, whose favorite sport is tennis , recently won a match against a fierce competitor. 

In this sentence, the relative clause helps to specify which friend the speaker is referring to in the independent clause. 

2. Which One/What Kind: Things 

On the other hand, the relative pronouns that and which are used to describe things . 

• The store that we shopped at yesterday is having a huge sale today. 

In the sentence above, the relative clause that we shopped at yesterday indicates which store the speaker is referring to in the independent clause. 

Additionally, relative clauses can be used to describe the kind or type of person or thing that is named in the independent clause. 

• For this position, we are looking for someone who is hardworking and cooperates well with others . 

In the sentence above, the kind of person that the company wishes to hire is described in the relative clause .

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3 Tips for Understanding Relative Clauses

Here are some important tips to help you understand relative clauses : 

Tip #1. Relative Clauses must connect back to someone or something mentioned previously in the sentence 

• My uncle, who is a war veteran , was recognized in a special ceremony last weekend. 

Without the noun, uncle , being introduced earlier in the sentence, the relative pronoun who would not make sense. Relative clauses are helpful tools for adding information, but without that initial noun, relative pronouns have nothing to “relate” or “connect back to”. 

Tip #2. Relative clauses always start with a relative pronoun and modify a noun in the sentence 

• The necklace, which was her great grandmother’s , was lost at sea many years ago.  

In this sentence, the dependent relative clause helps to specify which necklace was lost at sea to add clarity to the independent clause. 

Tip #3. Relative clauses always modify key words in a sentence rather than replace them

Relative clauses are similar to noun clauses in that they are both considered dependent clauses ; however, while noun clauses replace nouns in the independent clause, relative clauses modify nouns in the independent clause instead of replacing them. 

For example — here is the same pronoun used in both a noun clause and in a relative clause . They may look similar; however, their functions are very different. 

• Noun clause: She could not decide which pie she liked better .
• Relative clause: The chocolate pie, which was made by her grandfather , was her favorite. 

In the first example, the noun clause replaces the direct object in the independent clause. In the second example, the relative clause modifies the subject of the independent clause. As long as you understand the function of each of these clauses, you can avoid becoming confused as a reader and as a writer.

Applying the Basics: Relative Clause Review & Practice

Now that you understand how relative clauses function in sentences, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognize these clauses . 

The Ultimate List of Clauses

Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of Clauses :

This list, obviously, does not include all possible examples of clauses; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while identifying sentence clauses.

Relative Clauses Exercises and Review 

Now that you know how to identify relative clauses , test your ability to find these in sentences.

Select the relative clause(s) in the sentences below. Remember, a relative clause modifies a noun in the independent clause, and relative clauses always start with relative pronouns. 

1. The Black Pearl, which was once Jack Sparrow’s prized possession , was now in the ownership of Captain Barbossa. 

In this sentence, the relative clause which was once Jack Sparrow’s prized possession gives more information about the ship, the Black Pearl.

2. Elizabeth had stowed away a gold medallion which she had taken from Will when he was a boy .

In this sentence, the relative clause which she had taken from Will when he was a boy modifies which gold medallion was hidden away.

3. Lieutenant Norrington, who was honestly much older than Elizabeth , was surprised when she refused to marry him. 

In the sentence above, the relative clause who was honestly much older than Elizabeth describes what kind of person Lieutenant Norrington was in relation to Elizabeth. 

Pro tip : Remember, relative clauses can modify any noun in the independent clause. 

For additional practice, check out Relative Clauses content on Albert.

Try for Yourself: Relative Clauses Quiz 

Feeling confident in your understanding of Relative Clauses ? 

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Can relative pronouns exist in a sentence without the help of any other nouns? 

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Relative pronouns that begin relative clauses must connect back to another noun in the sentence; otherwise, they do not make sense.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, relative pronouns that begin relative clauses must connect back to another noun in the sentence; otherwise, they do not make sense.

2. Do relative clauses only modify the subject of the independent clause? 

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Relative clauses can modify any noun in the independent clause, subject or object.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, relative clauses can modify any noun in the independent clause, subject or object.

3. In this sentence, which relative pronoun is needed to start the relative clause? 

My hairbrush that/who went missing yesterday was found buried in the yard today. 

• Answer: that
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The relative pronoun, that , must start the relative clause because the subject, hairbrush, is a thing and not a person.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, the relative pronouns that and which are used to refer to places and things, while the relative pronouns who and whom are used to refer to people.

4. In this sentence, which relative pronoun is needed to start the relative clause? 

The security camera footage helped the police identify who/which broke into our cafe overnight .

• Answer: who
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The relative pronoun, who , must start the relative clause because it is most likely that a human broke into the cafe, which means that either who or whom is needed.

5. In this sentence, is the underlined clause a relative clause or an adverb clause? 

Whenever it is snowing , I like to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

• Answer: Adverb
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The subordinating conjunction, whenever , begins the clause, making it an adverb clause. Additionally, the clause acts like an adverb because it modifies the verb, like to watch by answering the question, “when”.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, relative clauses modify nouns and start with relative pronouns. Adverb clauses on the other hand modify verbs and start with subordinating conjunctions.

6. In this sentence, is the underlined clause a relative clause or an adverb clause? 

Taylor Swift, who is my favorite artist , is performing in Dallas, TX in June. 

• Answer: Relative
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The clause, who is my favorite artist is a relative clause because it starts with a relative pronoun. Also, the clause modifies the subject, Taylor Swift .

For additional practice with Relative Clauses , check out our practice on Albert: Relative Clauses .

Teacher’s Corner for Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are a great tool for spicing up students’ writing by adding details about people, places, things, and ideas. One of the trickiest things for students to remember when using relative clauses is making sure to include a noun for the clause to connect or “relate back to”. 

For specific standards on the different types of clauses, including relative clauses, check out the Common Core State Standards website. 

Albert’s Relative Clause Practice is helpful in teaching students to recognize and utilize these types of clauses by providing ample practice questions. Albert also provides grammar assessments and quizzes that can be used to track student understanding before, during, and after they’ve practiced with this grammar skill.

Summary for Relative Clauses

Relative clauses can modify any noun in the independent clause(s) of a sentence. They always begin with a relative pronoun, and they must be attached to an independent clause in order to make a complete sentence.

Relative clauses answer two questions:

• What Kind 

The relative pronouns that and which are used to describe things , and the relative pronouns who, whom, and whose are used to describe people.

Be sure to check out our grammar course for more Dependent Clause practice. 

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Relative clauses

Relative clauses give us more information about someone or something. We can use relative clauses to combine clauses without repeating information.

There are two types of relative clause: one type refers to a noun or noun phrase (these are defining and non-defining relative clauses) and the other type refers to a whole sentence or clause, especially in speaking.

Click on a topic to learn more about relative clauses.

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HOMEWORK - Relative clauses

Maria Igounet

Practse relative clauses

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Introduction to Relative Clauses - Who - That and Which - ESL Lesson Plan

Introduction to Relative Clauses - Who - That and Which - ESL Lesson Plan

A relative clause or adjective clause can be joined together to give more information about something. That is to say, it gives more information about the noun. As an example, the student might write, “This is a dog that is eating a bone.” To introduce a relative clause, include a relative pronoun (such as who, that, whose) or a relative adverb (when, where, why).

What Does Lesson Plan Include? At Off2Class, we have spent years building lesson plans for ESL teachers. Therefore, we know how to build content that will inform your students and make your job easier. This lesson plan on how to teach relative clauses includes definitions of relative clauses, examples of relative pronouns and relative adverbs. Each example is illustrated to encourage comprehension.

This lesson is suitable for Intermediate students and is classified CEFR High B1 or B1+.

If you want additional lesson plans and support, including teachers’ notes, be sure to register for a free Off2Class account.

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RC1.1 Introduction to relative clauses: who, that and which Lesson 1/8 The zebra is an animal that lives in Africa.

Thank you for downloading your free Off2Class lesson plan! This teacher-led lesson plan is designed using the communicative approach - perfect for teaching students online or in any screen-enabled classroom. To access the Teacher Notes and Answer Key, or to assign homework, click here to set up your free Off2class account. Don’t forget to join the discussion on Facebook to get access to other great tools for online ESL instruction.

Relative Clauses When we begin to learn English, we learn very basic sentences. For example: The girl is wearing glasses. Do you know the girl? But, we can create more advanced sentences using relative clauses. The girl appears in both sentences, so we can use a relative clause to make one sentence. Instead of repeating the girl, we can replace the girl with who. Do you know the girl who is wearing glasses? This is a relative clause!

Relative Clauses A relative clause or adjective clause can be used to join two sentences or to give more information about something. The girl is wearing glasses. Do you know the girl? We call it an adjective clause because just like an adjective it gives information about a noun. Do you know the girl who is wearing glasses? Here, the relative clause provides information about the noun, the girl.

Here are some more relative clauses Can you find: Notice that we use who when we are describing people and that when we are describing things. …the woman who is applying sunscreen? …the boy who is building a snowman? …the man who is wearing three watches? …the animal that is playing the guitar? …the man who is taking a nap?

Making a relative clause Let’s combine these two sentences using a relative clause. The man is tired. He has been working all day. First, replace the pronoun he with the relative pronoun who, because this is describing a person. The man is tired. who has been working all day. Now, we must put the relative clause after the noun it describes (the man). The man who has been working all day is tired.

Relative pronouns and relative adverbs Relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun, such as who, that, whose, or a relative adverb, such as when, where, why. The clauses always contain a verb. subject Thomas ate the cake. A relative clause can be used to describe a subject or an object. object Thomas ate the cake that was on the table. The relative clause is describing the object of the sentence, the cake.

Relative pronouns and relative adverbs subject Thomas ate the cake. object Thomas, who was really hungry, ate the cake. The relative clause is describing the subject of the sentence, Thomas. Here, the relative clause describes the subject of the sentence.

A rule for relative clauses A relative clause always follows the noun it modifies. Students who ask questions learn a lot more. Which students learn more? Students who ask questions. She wore the dress that I bought for her. Which dress did she wear? The dress that I bought for her

Let’s learn some relative pronouns! Who is used to describe people. That and which are used to describe things. In general, that is preferred in North American English. Sometimes we also use that to describe people. This is more informal. The man who is standing at the bus stop is my father. The book that is on the table belongs to me. The book, which we talked about, is on sale this week. The man that is standing at the bus stop is my father.

Time to practice 1. I met a woman. She is a professor at the local university. I met a woman who is a professor at the local university. 2. We bought a house. It is 100 years old. 3. She joined a gym. It is near her house. 4. The taxi driver was really nice. He drove me to the airport. 5. We watched a movie. The movie was about a murder. Can you combine the two sentences using a relative clause with who or that? More than one answer may be possible.

More practice… 6. A fashion designer is a person __________________. 7. An athlete is a person ____________________. 8. A mechanic is a person __________________. 9. A pilot is a person ____________________. 10. A civil engineer is a person ____________________. Can you describe the following jobs using a relative clause? For example: An architect is a person who designs buildings.

Who am I? 11. I am a person who sells fruits and vegetables. 12. I am a person who sells meat products. 13. I am a person who takes care of sick animals. 14. I am a person who grows food and raises animals on farms. Read each scenario and guess the answer. Use a relative clause in your answer.

Your turn… Now think of a job and describe it using a relative clause. You can choose one of the following jobs or think of your own. This is a person who ________________. accountant, actor, author, baker, carpenter, coach, dentist, doctor, editor, engineer, firefighter, journalist, judge, lawyer, musician, nurse, policeman, politician, teacher, waiter

What am I? 15. A refrigerator is a thing _________. 16. A vacuum is a thing _________. 17. An oven is a thing _________. 18. A blender is a thing _________. 19. Knives, forks and spoons are things _________. 20. A coffee machine is a thing _________. Can you describe the following household items using a relative clause?

Which animal is this? Now think of an animal and describe it using a relative clause. Choose one of the following animals, or think of your own. This is an animal that ________________. alligator, bear, bee, bird, cat, chicken, cow, dog, duck, elephant, fish, frog, giraffe, horse, kangaroo, lion, monkey, rabbit, shark, snake, spider, turtle, zebra

Guess who? Read the description with relative clauses. Can you guess who it is? This person, who was born in 1958, has six brothers and sisters. He is famous for singing songs that are popular all over the world. He was a great dancer who was famous for the moonwalk. This man, who is often called the King of Pop, passed away in 2009.

Guess who? Read the description with relative clauses. Can you guess who it is? This man, who was a strong advocate of peace, was a leader of India’s Independence Movement. His belief that people should live simply was an inspiration for many people. This man who inspired many Nobel Peace Prize winners, never received a Nobel Peace Prize.

What is it? Read the description with relative clauses. Can you guess what it is? This is something that gives people energy. This is something that many people have in the morning all throughout the world. It is something that you can have with or without milk and sugar.

What is it? Read the description with relative clauses. Can you guess what it is? This is something that went on sale in 1983, and at that time it cost almost $4000! This is something that people say they couldn’t live without (and over 3 billion people have). This is something that makes communicating much easier.

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Relative Clauses

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

18 November 2023

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This resource contains two worksheets on relative clauses. Tasks include identifying relative clauses in sentences, correctly punctuating sentences containing relative clauses and composing sentences containing relative clauses.

You may also be interested in:

[Relative Clauses - 80 Slide PowerPoint Lesson] https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/relative-clauses-12357365 )

This resource contains an editable, 80-slide PowerPoint lesson on relative causes. It explains what relative clauses are, the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses and how relative clauses for objects can have the pronoun omitted .

Opportunities are provided for pupils to identify both defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Relative Clauses - Set of 11 Worksheets/ Workbook

This resource contains an 11-page workbook and 6 revision/explanation sheets on relative pronouns. Tasks include:

Identifying relative clauses Distinguishing between defining and non-defining relative clauses Choosing the correct pronoun for a relative clause Expanding a noun phrase with a relative pronoun Punctuating non-defining relative clauses Identifying relative clauses that do not need a relative pronoun or adverb Combining sentences with a relative pronoun to make a relative clause Deciding whether the relative pronoun can be omitted in a sentence Writing using relative clauses

Relative Clauses - Revision/Memo Mat

This is a succinct and handy memo/revision mat on relative clauses. Understanding relative clauses can be a bit tricky.

This mat includes:

a definition of relative clauses the difference between defining relative clauses and non-defining relative clauses how to punctuate relative clauses how to determine when a relative pronoun can be omitted from a relative clause

The mat contains clear examples. It is available in five different fonts.

Save money and buy both all the resources together in a bundle at a discounted rate:

Relative Clauses - PowerPoint Lesson, Worksheets and Memo Mat

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