Relative Clauses — Advanced

Reference

Common mistakes

1. The person to who I spoke was helpful. → The person to whom I spoke was helpful.
   prep + whom (not who) in formal usage
2. She has three children, both of whom are doctors. → She has three children, all of whom are doctors.
   both = 2; for 3+ use all
3. The bridge build in 1900 is still in use. → The bridge built in 1900 is still in use.
   passive reduced clause = past participle (built)

Relative Clauses — Advanced — Exercises

Choose the relative structure

Circle the correct answer.

1. The person _____ I spoke was very helpful. (to whom / to who / whom to)
2. She has three children, all of _____ are doctors. (whom / who / them)
3. He bought two books, both of _____ were excellent. (which / whom / them)
4. The man _____ by the door is my uncle. (standing / stood / who standing)
5. The bridge _____ in 1900 is still in use. (built / building / was built)
6. He didn't reply, _____ annoyed me. (which / that / what)
7. She has many talents, the greatest of _____ is her patience. (which / whom / that)
8. The house in _____ I grew up has been sold. (which / that / where)

Complete the sentence

Write the missing word or words.

1. The friend with   I travelled is from Peru.
2. There are 20 students, three of   are from Japan.
3. The photos   (take) on holiday are lovely.
4. People   (live) near the airport complain about the noise.
5. Sales rose by 30%,   surprised everyone.
6. The topic about   we argued was politics.

Relative Clauses — Advanced — Answer Key

Choose the relative structure

1. to whom — Formal: preposition + whom.
2. whom — quantifier + of + whom.
3. which — Things → which.
4. standing — Reduced active clause → standing.
5. built — Reduced passive clause → built.
6. which — Comment on the whole clause → which.
7. which — superlative + of + which.
8. which — Preposition + which (never that).

Complete the sentence

1. whom
2. whom
3. taken
4. living
5. which
6. which