Relative Clauses

Relative Clauses Exercises

Exercise 1Whenever possible, delete the relative pronouns and when.

1. Georgina’s the person whom I told you about yesterday.2. I don’t like movies that have a lot of violence.3. Centralia, the town in which I grew up, is in a rural area.4. Someone who I really enjoy talking to is Chris’s father.5. Josi bought a book which she had heard about on TV.

1. Georgina’s the person (whom) I told you about yesterday.2. I don’t like movies that have a lot of violence.3. Centralia, the town in which I grew up, is in a rural area.4. Someone (who) I really enjoy talking to is Chris’s father.5. Josi bought a book (which) she had heard about on TV.

6. Frieda is a politician whose views I respect.7. She’s someone whom I campaign for every four hours.8. I don’t know anyone who agrees with you.9. Thanksgiving is a time when many families get together.10. Will Rogers, a U.S. comedian, never met a person whom he didn’t like.

6. Frieda is a politician whose views I respect.7. She’s someone (whom) I campaign for every four hours.8. I don’t know anyone who agrees with you.9. Thanksgiving is a time (when) many families get together.10. Will Rogers, a U.S. comedian, never met a person (whom) he didn’t like.

Exercise 2Correct the sentences

1. Stephie Gould is a song writer whom music appeals to all kinds of people.

1. Stephie Gould is a song writer whose music appeals to all kinds of people.

2. She often performs her own songs, which she sings them in a powerful, country-western style.

2. She often performs her own songs, which she sings in a powerful, country-western style.

3. Gould who grew up in New York City studied classical music.

3. Gould, who grew up in New York City, studied classical music.

4. A friend invited her to a country music festival in west Virginia, which she heard real country music for the first time.

4. A friend invited her to a country music festival in west Virginia, where she heard real country music for the first time.

5. Gould, who’s songs are often in the top ten these days, was too poor at the time to buy a good guitar.

5. Gould, whose songs are often in the top ten these days, was too poor at the time to buy a good guitar.

6. She found a used guitar in a yard sale the day after the festival, that she was on her way back to New York City.

6. She found a used guitar in a yard sale the day after the festival, when she was on her way back to New York City.

7. She still has that guitar, that she named Lynette after a famous country singer.

7. She still has that guitar, which she named Lynette after a famous country singer.

8. Lynette is like an old friend whose you don’t want to leave behind when your fortunes improve.

8. Lynette is like an old friend who/whom you don’t want to leave behind when your fortunes improve.

9. Gould and Jim Elliott, which she met on a tour last year, got married recently.

9. Gould and Jim Elliott, who/whom she met on a tour last year, got married recently.

10. Elliot, with who she often practices, is also a musician.

10. Elliot, with whom she often practices, is also a musician.

Exercise 3Combine the two sentences using the word in parentheses. Use commas where necessary.

1. Lloyd Alexander is a writer. Many children love his books. (whose)

1. Lloyd Alexander is a writer whose books many children love.

2. Alexander writes fantasies. He has received many prizes for his fiction. (who)

2. Alexander, who has received many prizes for his fiction, writes fantasies.

3. The High King is one of his most famous stories. It received an important award. (which)

3. The High King, which is one of his most famous stories, received an important award.

4. Many of his stories take place in an imaginary country. Evil is always lurking there. (where)

4. Many of his stories take place in an imaginary country where evil is always lurking.

5. The Black Cauldron tells about a time. There was a great danger in the country then. (when)

5. The Black Cauldron tells about a time when there was a great danger in the country.

6. Gurgi always speaks in rhymes. Gurgi is one of the most charming characters in the book. (who)

6. Gurgi, who is one of the most charming characters in the book, always speaks in rhymes.

7. Taran becomes the hero. Gurgi follows Taran everywhere. (whom)

7. Taran, whom Gurgi follows everywhere, becomes the hero.

8. Lloyd Alexander grew up in Philadelphia. He still lives there. (where)

8. Lloyd Alexander grew up in Philadelphia, where he still lives.

9. The Welsh legends fascinated him. He read the legends as a boy. (that)

9. The Welsh legends that he read as a boy fascinated him.

10. Alexander wrote a book about music. His hobbies include playing the violin. (whose)

10. Alexander, whose hobbies include playing the violin, wrote a book about music.

Relative Clauses