Relative Pronoun Exercises: Check Answers and Tips

Do you know when to use “who” versus “whom”? Can you confidently distinguish between “that” and “which”? If you’re looking to refine your understanding of relative pronouns, you’ve come to the right place. This blog post offers a series of targeted relative pronoun exercises to help you conquer any confusion and use these essential words with precision.

What are Relative Pronouns?

Before diving into relative pronouns exercises, let us understand these pronouns in brief.

A relative pronoun is a word that introduces a relative clause and connects it to an independent clause. Essentially, it acts as a bridge between two parts of a sentence, providing additional information about a noun that has already been mentioned.   

Common Relative Pronouns:

• Who: Refers to people (subject).  
• Whom: Refers to people (object).  
• Which: Refers to things, animals, or ideas.  
• That: Refers to people, things, animals, or ideas (often in restrictive clauses).  
• Whose: Shows possession.

Also Read: Subject Pronouns Exercises with Answers

Relative Pronoun Exercises

Now, it is time to solve relative pronoun exercises. These questions are designed to help you test your knowledge about relative pronouns. After solving the exercises, you can check the answers following the questions.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that, whose).

1. The woman ______ teaches my English class is very knowledgeable.
2. The book ______ I found on the shelf was very interesting.
3. The student ______ project won the competition was thrilled.
4. The person ______ I spoke to yesterday was very helpful.
5. The car ______ was parked outside was blocking the driveway.

Answers:

1. The woman who teaches my English class is very knowledgeable.
2. The book which/that I found on the shelf was very interesting.
3. The student whose project won the competition was thrilled.
4. The person whom I spoke to yesterday was very helpful.
5. The car that/which was parked outside was blocking the driveway.

Exercise 2: Sentence Combining

Instructions: Combine the following pairs of sentences using a relative pronoun.

1. The dog was barking loudly. It belongs to my neighbour.
2. The man is a doctor. He helped me at the accident.
3. The house is very old. It has a beautiful garden.
4. The movie was a comedy. We saw it last night.
5. The teacher is very kind. Her students respect her.

Answers:

1. The dog that/which was barking loudly belongs to my neighbor.
2. The man who helped me at the accident is a doctor.
3. The house that/which has a beautiful garden is very old.
4. The movie that/which we saw last night was a comedy.
5. The teacher whose students respect her is very kind.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Pronoun

Instructions: Choose the correct relative pronoun from the options in parentheses.

1. The cookies (who/which) I baked are delicious.
2. The boy (whose/who’s) bike was stolen is very upset.
3. The people (that/whom) we invited to the party are arriving soon.
4. The problem (who/which) we discussed in the meeting is still unresolved.
5. The artist (who/whom) painted this mural is very talented.

Answers:

1. The cookies which I baked are delicious.
2. The boy whose bike was stolen is very upset.
3. The people whom/that we invited to the party are arriving soon.
4. The problem which we discussed in the meeting is still unresolved.
5. The artist who painted this mural is very talented.

Exercise 4: Identify the Relative Clause

Instructions: Underline the relative clause in each sentence and identify the relative pronoun.

1. The student who studies diligently usually succeeds.
2. The book that I read last week was a thriller.
3. The house whose windows are broken needs immediate repair.
4. The movie which we watched was a classic.
5. The person whom I met at the conference was very insightful.

Answers:

1. The student who studies diligently usually succeeds. (who)
2. The book that I read last week was a thriller. (that)
3. The house whose windows are broken needs immediate repair. (whose)
4. The movie which we watched was a classic. (which)
5. The person whom I met at the conference was very insightful. (whom)

Exercise 5: Error Correction

Instructions: Correct the errors in the following sentences.

1. The dog who’s tail was wagging was friendly.
2. The book that I read, was very interesting.
3. The man whom speaks Italian is my teacher.
4. The car which I bought, it is blue.
5. The person whose I saw yesterday, she was nice.

Check Answers:

1. The dog whose tail was wagging was friendly.
2. The book that I read was very interesting. (remove comma)
3. The man who speaks Italian is my teacher.
4. The car which I bought is blue. (remove “it”)
5. The person whom I saw yesterday was nice. (remove “she”)

Also Read: Personal Pronoun Exercises

How to Master Relative Pronouns and Relative Pronouns Exercises?

Mastering relative pronouns and solving relative pronoun exercises require a combination of understanding the rules and consistent practice. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to do it:

1. Understand the Basics:

• Know the relative pronouns: Memorize who, whom, which, that, and whose.
• Grasp their functions: Understand that they connect relative clauses to main clauses and provide additional information about nouns.
• Learn about antecedents: Realize that relative pronouns refer back to a noun (the antecedent).

2. Learn the Specific Rules:

• Who vs. Whom:
  • “Who” is used for subjects (the person doing the action).
  • “Whom” is used for objects (the person receiving the action).
  • In informal English, “who” often replaces “whom.”
• Which vs. That:
  • “Which” is used for non-restrictive clauses (extra information, set off by commas).
  • “That” is used for restrictive clauses (essential information, no commas).
• Whose:
  • “Whose” shows possession and can be used for people, animals, or things.
• Restrictive vs. Non-Restrictive Clauses:
  • Understand the difference between clauses that are essential to the meaning of the sentence and clauses that are adding extra information. This is key to comma placement and choosing “which” or “that”.

3. Practice Regularly:

• Do exercises: Practice fill-in-the-blank, sentence-combining, and error correction exercises.
• Read extensively: Pay attention to how relative pronouns are used in books, articles, and other written materials.
• Write frequently: Incorporate relative pronouns into your own writing.
• Speak actively: Try to use relative pronouns in your daily conversations.

4. Pay Attention to Context:

• Consider the antecedent: Ensure the relative pronoun clearly refers to the intended noun.
• Understand the clause’s purpose: Determine whether the clause is restrictive or non-restrictive.
• Think about formality: Be aware that “whom” is less common in informal speech.

5. Identify and Correct Mistakes:

• Review your work: Look for errors in your writing and speaking.
• Use grammar resources: Consult grammar books, websites, or apps to clarify any doubts.
• Seek feedback: Ask a teacher, tutor, or native speaker to review your work.

6. Use Real-World Examples:

• Analyse sentences: Break down complex sentences to understand how relative pronouns function.
• Listen to native speakers: Pay attention to how they use relative pronouns in conversations.
• Watch English videos and movies: Notice how relative pronouns are used in spoken English.

7. Utilise Online Resources:

• Grammar websites: Websites like Grammarly, Purdue OWL, and EnglishClub offer explanations and exercises.
• Language learning apps: Apps like Duolingo and Babbel include grammar lessons and practice activities.
• Online forums and communities: Participate in discussions and ask questions about relative pronouns.

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