Grammar Worksheet

Defining and non-defining relative clauses

Non-defining relative clauses
Use
We use non-defining relative clauses to give extra
information about the person or thing in the main
clause. The extra information is not essential.
Robbie Williams Millennium, which is one of his most
successful singles, was released in 1999.
Form
In non-defining relative clauses we put a comma before
and after the main clause.
We use the relative pronouns who, which, whose,
where and when in non-defining relative clauses. The
relative pronoun cannot be omitted.
Mark Smith, who lives next door to us, plays in a band.

1 Combine the sentences. Use who, which,
whose, where or when.

Ivan is very good-looking. (Hes Helens brother.)
Ivan, who is Helens brother, is very good-looking.

1 The book is about a murder on the Nile. (It was
written by Agatha Christie.)


2 The diamond necklace has been found by the
police. (It was stolen last week.)


3 Steven Spielberg lives in Hollywood. (He is
a famous filmdirector.)


4 My friend Isabel wants to do media studies.
(Her father is a TV presenter.)


5 The new club plays great music. (J amie works
there.)


6 My holiday in Ibiza was wonderful. (I first met
J enny then.)


7 The new band is very good. (It was formed
last year.)


Defining relative clauses
Use
We use defining relative clauses to give essential
information about the person or thing in the main
clause. It tells us which person or thing we are talking
about.
This is the CD which everyone is talking about.
Form
There are no commas in defining relative clauses. We
can replace who or which with that in defining relative
clauses.
Shes the woman that works with my mother.
This is the book that I told you about.
Who, which, that and when can be omitted when they
are the object of the verb in the second clause, e.g.
Theres the man that the police have been looking for.
Whose and where cant be omitted.

2 Combine the sentences. Use who, which,
that, where or when.

Thats the school. I used to go to it.
Thats the school that I used to go to.

1 Theres the girl. I was telling you
about her.


2 That was the day. They got married then.


3 Shes the girl. Her brother plays in the football
team.


4 Thats the caf. I meet my friends there.


5 This is the film. Ive been waiting to see it
for ages.


6 Have you met the girl? Shes going out
with Ted.


7 These are the trainers. I bought them yesterday.



1 Combine the sentences. Use who, which,
whose, where or when.

Ivan is very good-looking. (Hes Helens brother.)
Ivan, who is Helens brother, is very good-looking.

1 The book, who is about a murder on the Nile, was
written by Agatha Christie.)

2 The diamond necklace which It was stolen last
week has been found by the police.

3 Steven Spielberg, who is
a famous filmdirector, lives in Hollywood.

4 My friend Isabel, whose father is a TV presenter,
wants to do media studies.

5 The new club where J amie works plays great
music.

6 My holiday in Ibiza, when I first met J enny, was
wonderful.

7 The new band which was formed
last year.

2 Combine the sentences. Use who, which,
that, where or when.

Thats the school. I used to go to it.
Thats the school that I used to go to.

1 Theres the girl (who/that) I was telling you
about.

2 That was the day when they got married.

3 Shes the girl whose brother plays in the football
team.

4 Thats the caf where I meet my friends.

5 This is the film(that /which) Ive been waiting to
see for ages.

6 Have you met the girl whos going out
with Ted?

7 These are the trainers (that/which) I bought
yesterday.