There are two types of relative clause: identifying relative clauses and non-identifying relative clauses .

•An identlfying relative clause gives necessary information and is essential to the meaning of the main sentence. The relative
pronouns can be omitted when they are the object of the relative clause. The relative clause is not put in commas.
e.g. People are fined. (Whieh people?
We don 't know. The meaning
of the sentenee is not elear.)
People who/that park iIIegally are fined. (Whieh people? Those who park iIIegally.)
The film was boring. (Whieh film? We don't know. The meaning of the sentenee is not elear.)
The film (which/that) I watched yesterday
was boring. (Whieh film? The one I watehed yesterday.)

1
Fin in the re'afive pronoun or adverb. Put commas where necessary. Write I for identifying, NI for non·identifying and
say whether the relative can be omitted or noto
1 The dress ... whlch/that ... she bought was too big. (1, can b~ omltUd)
2 Mrs Stewart ...............................was the school's head-
mistress for ten years has retired now.
3 This is the kitten .............................I found in my garden.
4 Martin Reeds .............................was born the same year
as I was is a distinguished author.
5 Pauline Smith ...............................; ...was in my class at
school is a very successfullawyer now.
6 The library .....................they knocked down yesterday
was in very bad condition.
7 The car .................................I bought last year is a red
Ferrari.
8 Have you read the book ................................was written
by one of the professors from my university?
9 That's the man ..............................dog buried a bone in
my vegetable garden.
10 My garden ...................................llike very much looks
beautiful when all the flowers bloom.
11 I know a girl ..........................goes skiing in Switzerland
every winter.
12 Jane ................................I don't know very well is very
good at her job.
13 The woman ...................................we spoke to is called
Claire.
•A non-identifying relative clause gives extra information and is not essential to the meaning of the main sentence. In non-
identifying relative clauses, the relative pronouns cannot be omitted and cannot be replaced by that. The relative clause is put in
commas.
e.g. The Jeffersons live next door. (The meaning of the sentenee is elear.)
The Jeffersons, who own a Jaguar, live next door. (The relative clause gives extra information.)
My cat is ealled Monty. (The meaning of the sentenee is elear.)
My cat, which I found on the street,
is called Monty. (The relative clause gives extra information.)

2 Choose the correct answer.

1 John is a boy ... C ... studies hard every day.
A when B which whoe
2 This is the bicycle ................I used to ride to school on.
A whom B whose e which
3 I remember the time ..................I fell and broke my armo
A where B when e which
4 The reason .....................he is happy is that he has just
passed his exams.
A why B which e when
5 Where's the bread .......................I bought this morning?
A who B when e that
6 That's the woman .....................best friend is a film star.
A whose B who's e which
7 Paul is holding the prize ............................he won in the
competition.
A where B who e which
8 The chair ......................she is sitting on is an antique.
A when B where e which
9 The woman .....................lives in that house is very rich.
A which B who ewhere
10 The book ........................I borrowed from the library is
very interesting.
A that B whose e who's
 they can be omitted or not.

3 FiII in the gaps with the correct re'ative

pronoun or adverb and say whether 4 FiII in the gaps with the correct re'ative adverb
A The book 1) ... which/that ... (can be omitted) I or pronoun.
borrowed from the library was about a girl 2) ................
works in Africa 3) ....................there are many people
starving. It is a very sad story.
B John is aman 1) .............................only ambition is to be
rich. That's the reason 2) ................................he works
so hard. He doesn't listen to people 3) .........................
tell him to slow down. The day 4) .............................he
becomes a millionaire will be the day 5) .......................
he has a rest.
e Home is the place Ilike best. I am a person 1)
.
needs time to myself. The thing 2) ...............I most like
to do is relax in my living room, 3) ..................I am free
from stress and 4) ...............there are no interruptions. The Lion King is a film 1) ... which ...........everyone will
D The moment 1) ..........................I met Peter is a moment enjoy. The story is set in Africa, 2) ............................there
are many wild animals, and the hero ot the story is
2) ....................I will always remember. He is someone
Simba, 3) ..........................father is the king of the lions.
3) .........................../ wi/l a/ways admire tor his courage,
Simba's evil uncle Scar, 4) ..................................wants to
4) ..............................has seen him through some diffi-
be king, kills Simba's father and sends Simba away.
cult times. That's the reason 5) ............................Iliked Years pass, and Simba grows up. One day, he meets
him straight away and 6) ............................we became a lioness, Nala, 5) ..............................was his childhood
good friends 7) ....................................understand and friendo She tells him that Scar, the king, is causing
respect each other. problems and that's the reason 6) .....................................
E Tom likes classical music, unlike Graham, 1) ................. she has come to find him and take him back. Simba
.......... only listens to pop music and 2) ........................ and his friends form a plan 7) .......................................will
favourite band is the Backstreet Boys. Tom likes music put an end to Scar's wickedness. The film has char-
3) ..............................relaxes him, but Graham goes to acters 8) ...........................................you will love, and the
nightclubs 4) ....................he can dance to loud music. music, 9) ..............................was written by Elton John, is
moving and dramatic. Disney, 10) ..............................films

5 Write the correct re'ative pronoun or

adverb in the appropriate place in the
have entertained children and adults alike for years, have
excelled themselves this time.

6
sentences below.
who Correct the mistakes.
The woman /\ opened the door was wearing a uni-
formo
2 The man mother lives next door won a lot of money last 1 That's the man who's dog Ilook after in the summer. 2 The
year. reason which I'm tired is that I didn't sleep well last night.
3 This ring, was a present from my husband, is very 3 Tim is someone which I've known since I was very young.
valuable. 4 The moment who I realised my mistake I was very
4 My father, is a policeman, really enjoys his job. embarrassed.
5 The house I used to live has been knocked down now. 6 5 The town which Shakespeare was born is called
The book was given to me for my birthday is very Stratford-upon-Avon.
old. 6 Simon, whose lives near me, is learning to play the guitar.
7 That teacher, is very good at his job, is popular with all
7 Tom, who party we went to last month, has just bought a
speedboat.
his students.
8 She's rich. That's she doesn't work.
8 Martin, sister has travelled the world, is a very inter-
9 There's the place which Sam's car broke down.
esting persono
10 That exam, who was very difficult, was written by our
9 The office the boss works is very luxurious.
teacher.
10 Jane, mother is my hairdresser, is getting married next
month.
11 The building is on the corner of the street is falling
down.
12 Richmond, I was born, is a very nice place to live.