RELATIVE PRONOUNS EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Intermediate/Advanced
✓ Useful for IELTS
✓ Useful for TOEFL
✓ Useful for Cambridge B2/C1
DID YOU KNOW?
Relative clauses are among the most tested — and most misused — structures across all major English exams.
Choosing correctly between who, whom, which, that, and whose in a relative clause is tested in Cambridge Use of English (Part 2), IELTS reading and writing, and TOEFL reading. The defining vs non-defining distinction also matters: The student who works hardest will succeed (defining — no commas) vs My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor (non-defining — commas required).
In IELTS writing, using relative clauses correctly and varied demonstrates the grammatical range needed for Band 7+. This exercise covers all the key relative pronoun choices in one focused workout.
Relative clauses are among the most tested — and most misused — structures across all major English exams.
Choosing correctly between who, whom, which, that, and whose in a relative clause is tested in Cambridge Use of English (Part 2), IELTS reading and writing, and TOEFL reading. The defining vs non-defining distinction also matters: The student who works hardest will succeed (defining — no commas) vs My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor (non-defining — commas required).
In IELTS writing, using relative clauses correctly and varied demonstrates the grammatical range needed for Band 7+. This exercise covers all the key relative pronoun choices in one focused workout.
Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete each sentence.
1. The woman ________________ purse was stolen is speaking with the police officer.
2. The cats ________________ are playing in our back yard belong to our neighbor.
3. The woman ________________ called this morning was my sister.
4. The notebook ________________ is on the desk is Robert’s.
5. My dad, ________________ name is Thomas, moved here in 1988.
6. The coach chastised Reggie, ________________ he blamed for the loss.
7. We were sitting next to the woman ________________ wallet we found.
8. John’s mother, ________________ had been trying hard to have the laws changed, was happy to hear the news.
9. The mountains, ________________ weren’t as close as Tommy said they were, are quite high.
10. The writer ________________ book I bought last week will be in town next month.
11. My grandfather gave the money to Robert, ________________ was the only one that deserved it.
12. The situation was so serious that he had to borrow money from Jim, ________________, in hindsight, was not a good idea.
13. The little boy ________________ dog we rescued wrote us a thank-you note.
14. The keys ________________ are on the desk are Paula’s.
15. F. Scott Fitzgerald was a famous American writer ________________ lived in Paris for many years.
16. This is the song ________________ could win them a Grammy.
17. It turns out that the woman ________________ he spoke to worked for the New York Times.
18. Bill, ________________ has always had bad luck with loud neighbors, finally moved out last week.
19. The last dishes were washed, ________________ meant that I could relax.
20. He bought a new wallet for the little boy ________________ wallet had been stolen.
