Relative Clauses

Grammar Reference

Relative Clauses — Exercises

Defining or non-defining?

1. Automation, which is transforming the workforce, is creating new career prospects.
   (non-defining / defining) 
2. Workers who are made redundant often struggle to find similar work.
   (defining / non-defining) 
3. The entrepreneur, whose company employs 500 people, spoke at the conference.
   (non-defining / defining) 
4. The algorithm that monitors emissions was developed by engineers.
   (defining / non-defining) 
5. The year when the company achieved carbon neutrality was a milestone.
   (defining / non-defining) 
6. The Paris Agreement, which was signed in 2015, targets net zero emissions.
   (non-defining / defining) 

Add the correct relative pronoun

1. The communities are most affected by inequality often lack access to education.
   
2. Social mobility, was once considered a hallmark of modern societies, is now declining.
   
3. The cybersecurity expert firm specialises in data privacy gave a keynote speech.
   
4. This is the year the company plans to achieve carbon neutrality.
   
5. The city the conference was held has excellent public transport.
   
6. The freelance market, is growing rapidly, offers new opportunities for remote work.
   
7. The report the team spent months producing was finally published.
   
8. Fossil fuels, once dominated global energy, are being replaced by renewables.
   

Reduce the relative clause

1. Workers who are affected by automation should be retrained.
   
2. The data which was collected over five years shows a clear trend.
   
3. Companies that are based in the EU must comply with GDPR.
   
4. The entrepreneur, who is known for her innovative approach, launched a new app.
   

Correct the errors

1. Automation, that is disrupting many industries, requires policy action.
   
2. The algorithm which developed last year monitors carbon emissions.
   
3. She is an entrepreneur whose she runs a sustainable fashion company.
   

Relative Clauses — Answer Key

Defining or non-defining?

1. non-defining
2. defining
3. non-defining
4. defining
5. defining
6. non-defining

Add the correct relative pronoun

1. that
2. which
3. whose
4. when
5. where
6. which
7. that
8. which

Reduce the relative clause

1. Sample answer: Workers affected by automation should be retrained.
2. Sample answer: The data collected over five years shows a clear trend.
3. Sample answer: Companies based in the EU must comply with GDPR.
4. Sample answer: Cannot reduce — non-defining clause; who is needed.

Correct the errors

1. Automation, which is disrupting
2. The algorithm that was developed last year
3. whose company