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Grade 9 English Language Arts — 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.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 boy WHO PLAYS THE FLUTE sits behind me.
    • The man WHO GREW UP ON A FARM keeps bees.
    • My only brother WHO PLAYS THE FLUTE is younger than me.
    • The doctor WHO TREATED MY ANKLE works at the clinic.
    • My mother WHO IS A DOCTOR works long hours.
    • My father WHO GREW UP ON A FARM tells wonderful stories.

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

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

  3. 3.Put the cards in order to make one correct sentence with a defining relative clause.

    • has run out.
    • which
    • last week
    • The pen
    • you lent me

  4. 4.Which sentence is wrong?

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

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

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

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

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

  8. 8.Match each sentence to what its punctuation tells you.

    • The passengers who had tickets were allowed on.
    • The passengers, who had tickets, were allowed on.
    • My friends who live nearby came early.
    • My friends, who live nearby, came early.
    • Only some of my friends live nearby.
    • All of the passengers had tickets.
    • All of my friends live nearby.
    • Only some of the passengers had tickets.

Answer key — Grade 9 English Language Arts — Defining and non-defining relative clauses

  1. 1. 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
  2. 2. 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
  3. 3. 1. The pen 2. which 3. you lent me 4. last week 5. has run out.
  4. 4. b) The film, that we watched last night, was long.
  5. 5. that
  6. 6. d) The speaker has more than one sister.
  7. 7. c) The book that I borrowed was excellent.
  8. 8. The passengers who had tickets were allowed on. → Only some of the passengers had tickets.; The passengers, who had tickets, were allowed on. → All of the passengers had tickets.; My friends who live nearby came early. → Only some of my friends live nearby.; My friends, who live nearby, came early. → All of my friends live nearby.