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Year 6 English — Defining and non-defining relative clauses

Tell a clause that says which one from a clause that only adds extra information, and punctuate each correctly.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Match each relative pronoun to what it stands in for.

    • who
    • whom
    • whose
    • which
    • where
    • when
    • a thing or an animal
    • a person, as the object of the clause
    • a place
    • a person, as the subject of the clause
    • something belonging to the person or thing
    • a time

  2. 2.In which sentence can the relative pronoun be left out altogether?

    • a) The girl who won the prize is in my class.
    • b) The road that leads to the station is closed.
    • c) The book that I borrowed was excellent.
    • d) My cousin, who lives abroad, writes to me often.

  3. 3."The runners who trained on the hills finished first." There are no commas. What does the sentence tell you?

    • a) Some of the runners trained on the hills, and those are the ones who finished first.
    • b) Every runner trained on the hills.
    • c) The runners finished first, and it happens that they had all trained on the hills.
    • d) None of the runners trained on the hills.

  4. 4.Which sentence is wrong?

    • a) The film we watched last night was long.
    • b) The film, that we watched last night, was long.
    • c) The film which we watched last night was long.
    • d) The film that we watched last night was long.

  5. 5.Which sentence uses a non-defining relative clause correctly?

    • a) Our science teacher, who joined last year is very patient.
    • b) Our science teacher, who joined last year, is very patient.
    • c) Our science teacher who joined last year, is very patient.
    • d) Our science teacher, that joined last year, is very patient.

  6. 6.One relative pronoun can never introduce a clause sitting between a pair of commas. Write it.

  7. 7.Compare "My sister who lives in the hills is a doctor" with "My sister, who lives in the hills, is a doctor". What does the first version suggest that the second does not?

    • a) The sister has left the hills.
    • b) The speaker has more than one sister.
    • c) The speaker has only one sister.
    • d) The sister is not really a doctor.

  8. 8.In each sentence the relative clause is in capitals. Sort by whether that clause needs commas round it.

    Groups: Needs commas — extra information · No commas — it says which one

    • The man WHO GREW UP ON A FARM keeps bees.
    • The boy WHO PLAYS THE FLUTE sits behind me.
    • My father WHO GREW UP ON A FARM tells wonderful stories.
    • The doctor WHO TREATED MY ANKLE works at the clinic.
    • My only brother WHO PLAYS THE FLUTE is younger than me.
    • My mother WHO IS A DOCTOR works long hours.

Answer key — Year 6 English — Defining and non-defining relative clauses

  1. 1. who → a person, as the subject of the clause; whom → a person, as the object of the clause; whose → something belonging to the person or thing; which → a thing or an animal; where → a place; when → a time
  2. 2. c) The book that I borrowed was excellent.
  3. 3. a) Some of the runners trained on the hills, and those are the ones who finished first.
  4. 4. b) The film, that we watched last night, was long.
  5. 5. b) Our science teacher, who joined last year, is very patient.
  6. 6. that
  7. 7. b) The speaker has more than one sister.
  8. 8. My mother WHO IS A DOCTOR works long hours. → Needs commas — extra information; The doctor WHO TREATED MY ANKLE works at the clinic. → No commas — it says which one; My father WHO GREW UP ON A FARM tells wonderful stories. → Needs commas — extra information; The man WHO GREW UP ON A FARM keeps bees. → No commas — it says which one; My only brother WHO PLAYS THE FLUTE is younger than me. → Needs commas — extra information; The boy WHO PLAYS THE FLUTE sits behind me. → No commas — it says which one