Relative clauses exercises

level: upper-intermediate

 I.Rewrite the sentences using present participle or past participle.

1. Do you know the woman who is coming toward us?
2. The people who are waiting for the bus in the rain are getting wet.
3. I come from a city that is located in the southern part of the country.
4. The children who attend that school receive a good education.
5. The scientists who are researching the causes of cancer are making progress.
6. The fence which surrounds our house is made of wood.
7. They live in a house that was built in 1890.
8. We have an apartment which overlooks the park.

II.Circle the correct explanations (a or b) of the meaning of each sentence.

       1. The teacher thanked the students, who had given her some flowers.

a.The flowers were from only some of the students.

b.The flowers were from all of the students.

               2. The teacher thanked the students who had given her some flowers.

                        a.The flowers were from only some of the students.

b.The flowers were from all of the students.

               3. There was a terrible flood. The villagers who had received a warning of the impending flood escaped to safety.
                a.Only some of the villagers had been warned; only some escaped.

b.All of the villagers had been warned; all escaped.

               4. There was a terrible flood. The villagers, who had received a warning of the impending flood, escaped to safety.

a.Only some of the villagers had been warned; only some escaped.

b.All of the villagers had been warned; all escaped.

               5. Roberto reached down and picked up the grammar book, which was lying upside down on the floor.

a.There was only one grammar book near Roberto.

b.There was more than one grammar book near Roberto.

               6. Roberto reached down and picked up the grammar book which was lying upside down on the floor.

a.There was only one grammar book near Roberto.

b.There was more than one grammar book near Roberto.

III. Discuss the differences in meaning in the following pairs of sentences.

           1. He reached in the basket and threw away the apples that were rotten.

           2. He reached in the basket and threw away the apples, which were rotten.

           3. The students who had done well on the test were excused from class early.

           4. The students, who had done well on the test, were excused from class early.

           5. Cindy was delighted when she opened the present, which was from her grandmother.

           6. Cindy was delighted when she opened the present that was from her grandmother.

           7. The teacher pointed to the maps that were hanging on the rear wall of the classroom.

           8. The teacher pointed to the maps, which were hanging on the rear wall of the classroom.


 IV.Combine the following pairs of sentences using relative pronouns, making any necessary  changes and adding commas if necessary.
        
           1.I am looking after some children. They are terribly spoilt. (two ways)
           2.This is Mrs Jones. Her son won the championship last year.
           3.We'll have to get across the frontier. This will be difficult.
           4.I was waiting for a man. He didn't turn up. (The man . . .)
           5.You sent me a present. Thank you very much for it. (Thank you very much for. . .)
        6.When I was in town I met your sister. She was shopping for some clothes.
           7.The city was beautiful. We spent our vacation there.
           8.She lectured on a topic. I know very little about it.
           9.Her latest novel is really good. I read it on my holiday.
          10.She said that the men were thieves. This turned out to be true.
          11.Here’s the address. You should write to this address.  

             KEY to exercises

      

II           I.

            1.Do you know the woman coming toward us?

            2.The people waiting for the bus in the rain are getting wet.

            3. I come from a city located in the southern part of the country.

            4.The children attending that school receive a good education.

            5.The scientists researching the causes of cancer are making progress.

            6.The fence surrounding our house is made of wood.

            7.They live in a house built in 1890.

            8.We have an apartment overlooking the park.

            II.

            1.b)

            2.a)

            3.a)

            4.b)

            5.a)

            6.b)

            III.

            1.Only some apples were rotten.

            2.All the apples were rotten.

            3.Only some students were excused from class early.

            4.All the students were excused from class early.

            5.There was only one present (from her grandmother).

            6.There were many presents.

            7.There were other maps in the room, hanging on other walls.

            8.All the maps were hanging on the rear wall of the classroom.

      IV.
            1.a.I'm looking after some children who are terribly spoilt. 
               b.The children (that) I'm looking after are terribly spoilt. 
            2.This is Mrs Jones whose son won the championship last year.
            3.We'll have to get across the frontier which will be difficult.
            4.The man (who/that) I was waiting for didn't turn up.
            5.Thank you very much for the present (which/that) you sent.
            6.When I was in town I met your sister, who was shopping for some clothes.
            7.The city where we spent our vacation was beautiful.  
            8.She lectured on a topic (which/that) I know very little about.
            9.Her latest novel, which I read on my holiday, is really good.
            10.She said that the men were thieves, which turned out to be true.
            11.Here’s the address (that) you should write to.


     prepared by:

     Ivana Ristova

     Taken from: 
     1.Betty Schrampfer Azar - Understanding And Using English Grammar (3Rd Ed) -
     Advanced - Longman
     2.Grammar Practice - Upper Intermediate - E. Walker & S. Elsworth - Longman - 2000

     3.A Practical English Grammar - Thomson-Martinet - Oxford U.P. - Exercises 2