Relative clauses worksheets for ESL
35 worksheets · Sentences & clauses
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Relative clauses worksheets
35 printable worksheets with answer keys; the 24 most used, easiest level first.
About Relative clauses
Relative clauses give more information about a noun using a relative pronoun: who for people, which for things, that for people or things in defining clauses, whose for possession and where for places. Defining clauses identify which one we mean (The woman who lives next door is a nurse), while non-defining clauses add extra information between commas: My sister, who lives in Leeds, is a nurse.
Defining clauses with who, which and that are usually taught at A2–B1, and non-defining clauses, whose and leaving out the pronoun at B1–B2. Typical errors are repeating the object (*the book which I bought it), using that in non-defining clauses, using what as a relative pronoun (*the movie what I saw) and missing commas that change the meaning.
Here you'll find printable relative clauses worksheets with answer keys that you can print as PDFs or complete online via a class link.
Teaching tips: Relative clauses
- Play a definitions game (It's a person who…, It's a place where…) to revise vocabulary and practice defining clauses at the same time.
- Combine two simple sentences into one to show how the relative pronoun replaces a noun or pronoun.
- Show when the pronoun can be left out: only when it is the object of a defining clause (the man (who) I met).
- Watch for the repeated pronoun (*the car that I bought it): the relative pronoun already replaces it.
- Compare My brother who lives in Rome… (I have more than one brother) with My brother, who lives in Rome, … (I have one brother).
Questions teachers ask
When can I use that instead of who or which?
In defining relative clauses that can replace who or which and is very common in speech. It cannot be used in non-defining clauses or directly after a preposition: the house in which I grew up, not *in that.
When can the relative pronoun be left out?
In defining clauses when it is the object of the verb: The book (that) you lent me was great. It must stay when it is the subject: The man who called was rude.
How is whose used?
Whose shows possession and replaces his, her, its or their: That's the boy whose dog bit me. It can also be used for things: a company whose profits have fallen.