Relative Clauses Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.9-10.1.B

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

A clause is a set of words that has a subject and verb present, but it is not a complete thought (sentence). When a group of collective words do not have both a subject and a verb, it is called a phrase. Relative clauses have a remarkably similar job as an adjective. These are clauses that give more information about the noun that is present. They are super helpful to authors because they can help you clarify the vision and essence of what you are exploring for your readers. We will show you how using the correct pronoun can make or break the entire process. These worksheets will help you identify and use relative clauses productively in your own writing. They will also help you better understand the proofreading and editing process to heighten your work and that of others.

Relative Clause Worksheets To Print:

Can You Tell the Difference? - Lots of things to underline here. Wouldn't a star or check mark be more effective?

Defining to Non-Defining - When you really need a comma, this is why. Commas that offset information usually indicate that it is a non‐defining clause, meaning that the sentence could be understood without that information. Make the defining sentences below non‐ defining by adding commas in the correct places. There is one sentence that cannot be changed to non‐ defining; mark that one with a star.

Detailing What You Write - No need to take up a bunch of space. Adding relative clauses to sentences can be a great way to add lots of detail to your writing without taking up a lot of space. Put that into practice here.

Fill-in-the-Blank: Relative Adverbs - Which of these 3 Ws fits the spot? There are some sentences where multiple words can jump in and almost both feel right.

Creating a Series of Questions - You will need to combine sentences to create a question. This is an awesome skill.

The Complete Reversal - Read each sentence and then split the single sentence into two sentences. This means that you will need to add a few things.

Finish the Sentence - Finish the sentences that are just started off. You will need to direct a complete thought.

Do You Know Your Stuff? - Fill in the blanks with one of the following "which," "that," "whom," "who," or "whose."

Where Is It At? - Read each sentence and underline the relative clause. Make sure you get everything in there.

Defining vs. Non-Defining - Determine what type of clause the sentence has, and write either "Defining" if the thought is defining or "Non-Defining" if it is non-defining next to each sentence.

Write & Identify - Write 7 sentences that contain our topic of conversation. Trade papers with a partner. Have them underline them and write "D" for Defining or "ND" for Non‐Defining next to each sentence.

Matching Parts - Match the sentence parts together to form a full complete thought. This is a cool one.

Combining the Sentences: Defining Moments - Combine the two sentences into one sentence that contains a defining relative clause.

Combining the Sentences: Non-Defining - Combine the two sentences into one sentence that contains a non-defining format.

Identifying Relative Clauses in Context - Read the paragraph. Write all the instances that you find on the lines below in the order that they appear in the paragraph.

What Are Relative Clauses?

Relative clauses are a type of subordinate clauses, used to provide explanation or information related to the accident, event or idea discussed previously. It is very easy to identify them as it always starts with a relative pronoun such as who, whose, that, which, when, etc. There are three different categories of relative clauses, they are discussed in detail below:


Restrictive Form


A restrictive relative clause is used to provide information about the noun. Without the information that restrictive form provides, the sentence will get difficult to understand. With these types of clauses, pronouns 'that' and 'which' are used for nonliving entities. For the living entities, pronouns 'that' and 'who' are used. The use of commas is prohibited when using them in these types of situations. For example, "I like the cake" is not a complete sentence but by using a restrictive relative clause the sentence can be rewritten as "I like the cake that my father brought home" which is complete and understandable.


Non-Restrictive Form


Such clauses are used to provide additional or extra information in conversations. While providing brief information about a noun, non-restrictive relative clauses are not used. The non-restrictive form can be differentiated from restrictive format easily because it uses commas at the beginning and end of the clause and a relative pronoun that is not used in non-restrictive format. For example, in the sentence "James, who stood first in class, work really hard" the clause who stood first in class is a non-restrictive form.


Reducing Form


Reducing the relative clause, as the name suggests, is used to reduce words from a sentence to make it brief and concise. In these clauses, relative pronouns are sometimes reduced. For example, instead of "I like the bag that she was holding" we can write "I like the bag she was holding".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Defining to Non-Defining Preview