Sentences with relative clauses Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Quick Tip 49.1

A relative clause (adjective clause) is a kind of dependent clause; it gives extra information about a noun phrase in the main clause. Example (relative clause underlined): I brought the cookies that are on the plate.

Question 1. She transferred the plate to the tray that she just washed.
Answer: The relative clause is "that she just washed". The noun phrase being modified is "the tray". The main clause "She transferred the plate to the tray" can stand alone as a sentence without the relative clause.
In simple words: The phrase "that she just washed" tells us more about which tray she transferred the plate to. The main idea works by itself: "She transferred the plate to the tray."

Question 2. Blanche thought about the man who was living in Italy at the time.
Answer: The relative clause is "who was living in Italy at the time". The noun phrase being modified is "the man". The main clause "Blanche thought about the man" can stand alone as a sentence.
In simple words: The phrase "who was living in Italy at the time" tells us more about which man Blanche was thinking about.

Question 3. He called the company that usually supplies the pipes.
Answer: The relative clause is "that usually supplies the pipes". The noun phrase being modified is "the company". The main clause "He called the company" can stand alone as a sentence without the relative clause.
In simple words: The phrase "that usually supplies the pipes" identifies which company he called. Remove it, and "He called the company" still makes sense on its own.

Test Yourself 49.1 - Getting Started

Question 1. He paid no attention to the newspaper which was next to him.
Answer: Relative clause: which was next to him

Question 2. The police arrested the man whom they had been looking for.
Answer: Relative clause: whom they had been looking for

Question 3. Mrs. Peterson was reaching for the phone that was nearest her chair.
Answer: Relative clause: that was nearest her chair

Question 4. He might recognize the woman who is hosting the show.
Answer: Relative clause: who is hosting the show

Question 5. Cliff bought a present that was just perfect for his girlfriend.
Answer: Relative clause: that was just perfect for his girlfriend

Quick Tip 49.2

Relative clauses begin with one of the relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, whose.

Test Yourself 49.2 - Getting Started

Question 1. She gave him a smile that lit up her face.
Answer: Relative clause: that lit up her face

Question 2. The professor who gives easy tests is on sabbatical this semester.
Answer: Relative clause: who gives easy tests

Question 3. The approaches which are most likely to succeed are too complicated.
Answer: Relative clause: which are most likely to succeed

Question 4. The hotel which is near the shore doesn't open until April.
Answer: Relative clause: which is near the shore

Question 5. Are you satisfied with the computer that your parents bought for you?
Answer: Relative clause: that your parents bought for you

Quick Tip 49.3

A relative pronoun connects the relative clause to the rest of the sentence. All of the relative pronouns (except whose) also replace a noun phrase in the relative clause. (Whose replaces a determiner.)

Test Yourself 49.3 - Getting Started

Question 1. The hotel chain that Greg founded has since gone out of business.
Answer: Relative pronoun: that

Question 2. He phoned the woman who was writing the article.
Answer: Relative pronoun: who

Question 3. Jill resents the man whose father won the lottery.
Answer: Relative pronoun: whose

Question 4. The highway which I take to work needs repair.
Answer: Relative pronoun: which

Question 5. The TV show that she likes best is on Sunday nights.
Answer: Relative pronoun: that

Test Yourself 49.4 - Getting Started

Question 1. She turned on the broadcast which dealt with the scandal that had recently been in the news.
Answer: Relative clauses: (1) which dealt with the scandal (2) that had recently been in the news

Question 2. Buck stood behind the counter which dominated his small restaurant.
Answer: Relative clause: which dominated his small restaurant

Question 3. The photographer who took the picture which appeared in the paper that was most widely read won a Pulitzer Prize.
Answer: Relative clauses: (1) who took the picture (2) which appeared in the paper (3) that was most widely read

Question 4. I can't find the message that you sent me.
Answer: Relative clause: that you sent me

Question 5. No one who breaks the law should get away with it.
Answer: Relative clause: who breaks the law

Test Yourself 49.5 - Getting Started

Question 1. I am meeting Mr. Arnold at the museum that he supports.
Answer: Relative clause: that he supports. Main clause: I am meeting Mr. Arnold at the museum.

Question 2. The label which contains the warning is not very clear.
Answer: Relative clause: which contains the warning. Main clause: The label is not very clear.

Question 3. The robber opened the case which contained the most cash.
Answer: Relative clause: which contained the most cash. Main clause: The robber opened the case.

Question 4. The policy that the president is implementing should be successful.
Answer: Relative clause: that the president is implementing. Main clause: The policy should be successful.

Question 5. I contacted the young man whose wallet I found on the subway.
Answer: Relative clause: whose wallet I found on the subway. Main clause: I contacted the young man.

Quick Tip 49.4

A relative pronoun may be left out before a noun phrase. Example: The movie (that) I saw was exciting.

Test Yourself 49.6 - Getting Started

Question 1. The architect's design includes a window that faces the courtyard.
Answer: Dependent clause: that faces the courtyard (relative clause)

Question 2. She understood what you were trying to say.
Answer: Dependent clause: what you were trying to say (noun clause)

Question 3. If you're hungry, this town has a fantastic Greek restaurant.
Answer: Dependent clause: If you're hungry (adverbial clause)

Question 4. It is obvious that we have to reevaluate our plan.
Answer: Dependent clause: that we have to reevaluate our plan (noun clause)

Question 5. The offer that I have given you is a fair one.
Answer: Dependent clause: that I have given you (relative clause)

Test Yourself 49.7 - Getting Started

Question 1. The little square in the town we visited contained benches.
Answer: Relative clause: we visited (relative pronoun is left out)

Question 2. Other famous people will be performing at the theater that my brother works at.
Answer: Relative clause: that my brother works at

Question 3. The pilot who flew the aircraft must have been well trained.
Answer: Relative clause: who flew the aircraft

Question 4. My neighbor owns the horse which won this race.
Answer: Relative clause: which won this race

Question 5. The guest I invited is sleeping on the sofa.
Answer: Relative clause: I invited (relative pronoun is left out)

Quick Tip 49.5

A restrictive relative clause limits the noun phrase which it is modifying; a nonrestrictive relative clause does not. A nonrestrictive relative clause is separated from the main clause by pauses, and, when written, it is separated from the main clause by commas. Examples: The dogs which were friendly were being trained as Seeing Eye dogs (restrictive). The dogs, which were friendly, were being trained as Seeing Eye dogs (nonrestrictive).

Test Yourself 49.8 - Getting Started

Question 1. Mrs. Smith, who owns the house, was not interested in selling.
Answer: Nonrestrictive

Question 2. A huge truck, which someone had painted bright yellow, stood in the driveway.
Answer: Nonrestrictive

Question 3. The children who had just come back from the class trip were restless.
Answer: Restrictive

Question 4. The maid broke an antique lamp, which was very valuable.
Answer: Nonrestrictive

Question 5. The painting I brought home will be perfect for the den.
Answer: Restrictive

Test Yourself 49.9 - Getting Started

Question 1. The Frenchman who is from Lyons completed the project.
Answer: Relative clause: who is from Lyons. Type: Restrictive

Question 2. The general, who knew nothing about the matter, nonetheless voiced his opinion.
Answer: Relative clause: who knew nothing about the matter. Type: Nonrestrictive

Question 3. A small disturbance, which was getting louder and louder, finally attracted our attention.
Answer: Relative clause: which was getting louder and louder. Type: Nonrestrictive

Question 4. Jeremy, who was blushing profusely, asked Tatiana for some help.
Answer: Relative clause: who was blushing profusely. Type: Nonrestrictive

Question 5. Jim wasn't the person she wanted to hire.
Answer: No relative clause present in this sentence.

To Enhance Your Understanding

Proper names are not modified by restrictive relative clauses. Here is an example: George, who is an architect, is a good friend of mine. (nonrestrictive). Notice that if we want to be very specific about a proper name, to set it apart from others with the same name, then using a restrictive relative clause is entirely appropriate: The George who is an architect is a good friend of mine. (restrictive). The France that I am familiar with is a very lovely country. (restrictive).

To Further Enhance Your Understanding

A relative clause can modify any noun phrase in a sentence, whether that noun phrase is working as a subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition. For example, in the sentence "My sister likes the house which has a large swimming pool," the relative clause refers to the direct object of the main clause. And in the sentence "My sister sold the house to a family that has three children," the relative clause refers to the indirect object of the main clause.