A relative pronoun is used to repeat the meaning of a previous noun; at the same time it connects a relative clause to the rest of the sentence. So it acts as a conjunction and a pronoun at the same time. Test your knowledge of relative pronouns with this grammar test.
1I know a man ............... has just been to Australia.
Wrong!
Use "who" because it is the subject of the relative clause and refers to a person.
2Show me the road ............... leads to the railway station.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Which" and "that" can both refer to a thing in this defining relative clause.
3Here is the doctor ............... cured me of typhoid.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Who" and "that" can both refer to a person as the subject in this defining relative clause.
4He ............... does his best should be rewarded.
Wrong!
Use "who" in the fixed formal pattern "He who" when the pronoun is the subject of the relative clause.
5Wellington, ............... defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, was a great general.
Wrong!
Use "who" for a person in a non-defining relative clause set off by commas.
6He is a rascal ............... no one trusts.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Who" and "whom" can both refer to a person as the object of "trusts", but "whom" is more formal.
7The boy ............... you saw yesterday is my nephew.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Whom", "that", and "who" can all refer to a person as the object in this defining relative clause.
8The man ............... stole the money has been arrested.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Who" and "that" can both refer to a person as the subject in this defining relative clause.
9This is the house ............... was built in two weeks.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Which" and "that" can both refer to a thing in this defining relative clause.
10The news ............... I heard astonished me.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"That" and "which" can both refer to "news" as the object in this defining relative clause.
Answers
- I know a man who has just been to Australia.
- Show me the road which / that leads to the railway station.
- Here is the doctor who / that cured me of typhoid.
- He who does his best should be rewarded.
- Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, was a great general.
- He is a rascal who / whom no one trusts.
- The boy whom / that / who you saw yesterday is my nephew.
- The man who / that stole the money has been arrested.
- This is the house which / that was built in two weeks.
- The news that / which I heard astonished me.
