Test your understanding ofrelative pronouns with this grammar exercise.
1He was loved and respected by the people ...............
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"That he worked with", "who he worked with", and "with whom he worked" can all refer to people in this sentence.
2This is the house ............... I was born.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Where" and "in which" correctly refer to the house as a place.
3In that year she met James, ............... she was later to marry.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Whom" and "who" can both refer to James as the object of "marry" in this non-defining relative clause.
4Is this all ............... is left?
Wrong!
"That" is the natural relative pronoun after "all" in this question.
5It is the best film ............... has ever been made about dementia.
Wrong!
"That" is normally used after a superlative such as "the best" when it refers to a thing.
6All ............... you say is true.
Wrong!
"That" is correct after "all" when it means the things you say.
7I saw a girl ............... beauty took my breath away.
Wrong!
"Whose" is the possessive relative pronoun before the noun "beauty".
8He has launched a business ............... I have forgotten.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Whose name" and "the name of which" correctly show possession for the business.
9............... she said made me angry.
Wrong!
"What" means the thing or things that she said.
10The only thing ............... keeps me awake is coffee.
Wrong!
"That" is the natural relative pronoun after "the only thing" in this sentence.
11We have ............... we need.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"What" and "that which" can both mean the thing or things that we need.
12He got married again a few months later, ............... surprised everybody.
Wrong!
"Which" can refer to the whole previous clause after a comma.
Answers
- He was loved and respected by the people that he worked with / who he worked with / with whom he worked.
- This is the house where / in which I was born.
- In that year she met James, whom / who she was later to marry.
- Is this all that is left?
- It is the best film that has ever been made about dementia.
- All that you say is true.
- I saw a girl whose beauty took my breath away.
- He has launched a business whose name / the name of which I have forgotten.
- What she said made me angry.
- The only thing that keeps me awake is coffee.
- We have what / that which we need.
- He got married again a few months later, which surprised everybody.