Relative Clause / Relative Pronouns

Relative clauses are introduce by relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which, that) or relative adverbs (when, where, why)

Relative Pronouns Example
Who - people
(changed the subject at the second sentence) I saw the boy.
He could ride his bike without using his hands.
I saw the boy who could ride his bike without using his hands.

Whom - people
(change the object at the second sentence) Helen is the girl.
I met her at the party last night
Helen is the girl whom I met at the party last night.
Whose – possession
(change the possession at the second sentence) She knows the man.
His car was stolen yesterday
She knows the man whose car was stolen yesterday.

Which – noun
(changed noun at the second sentence) He has written a book.
It is about Javanese history.
He has written a book which is about Javanese history.

When – time I was walking home from school.
I saw a kitten in a drain.
I was walking home from school when I saw a kitten in a drain.
Where – place This is the shop.
I bought several postcards in that shop yesterday.
This is the shop where I bought several postcards in that shop yesterday.



A. Combine each pair of sentences, making the second sentence into a relative clause!

1. The environment can communicate discomfort.
The architects have created the environment.
2. The people are from California.
I met them at a party last night.
3. I want the TV.
I saw it in the store window yesterday.
4. There is the house.
I like it.
5. The couch has a high back.
I want to buy the couch.
6. I know the furniture store.
You want to visit it.
7. The seating arrangement was pleasant.
The architect designed it.
8. The kitchen cabinets were too high.
The architect designed them.


B. Complete the blanks using suitable relative pronouns or relative adverbs.

Sherlock Holmes, (1) ________ name is well-known, didn’t really exist. However, for many people (2)______ have read his adventures, he might as well have been a real person.
The man (3) ______ created Homes was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born in Edinburg in 1809. He trained as a doctor, but found he could earn more money by writing than by practicing medicine. He wrote not only stories about Holmes, but many other books (4) _______ people also liked. However, it is for the detectives stories (5) _____ he wrote that he is best remembered.
The place (6) _____ the Holmes mysteries are set is Victorian England. Holmes, (7) ______ is a brilliant detective; use his intelligence and scientific knowledge to solve the mysteries.
Even though Doyle wrote many Holmes mysteries, we’ll never know the reason (8)_______ he gave us so little information about Holmes private life. All the books were written in the first person, not by Holmes, but by his assistant. Dr Watson, (9) _______ knowledge of his master’s private life was limited.

Answer Keys


1. The environment which the architects have created can communicate discomfort.
2. The people whom I met at a party last night are from California.
3. I want the TV which I saw in the store window yesterday.
4. There is the house which I like.
5. The couch which I want to buy has a high back.
6. I know the furniture store which you want to visit.
7. The seating arrangement which the architect designed was pleasant.
8. The kitchen cabinets which the architect designed were too high.


1. Whose
2. Who
3. Who
4. Which
5. Which
6. Where
7. Who
8. Why
9. Whose