Have your students explore how to use relative clauses by using this series of worksheets.

Relative clauses are groups words that contain a subject and verb, but do not express a complete thought. This means that they cannot stand by themselves as sentences. They are one form of dependent clauses. They are occasionally referred to as the “adjective clause” because they work much like an adjective. They give you more descriptive information about the noun. The 15 worksheets in this series vary in difficulty to give your kids an idea about how much progress they are making. One lesson teaches students how to use relative clauses as adjectives to spice up sentences. Practice makes perfect when your class downloads PDF files to work on with these worksheets after the last school bell of the day rings.



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Printable Relative Clauses Worksheets

Click the buttons to print each worksheet and answer key.

Breaking Apart Worksheet

Breaking Apart

A relative clause is a clause that uses a relative pronoun to describe a noun. The relative pronouns are.

Your Own Worksheet

Writing Your Own

Complete each sentence by adding a relative clause. Use the information in parentheses.

Complete the Sentence Worksheet

Complete the Sentence Worksheet

Complete each sentence with a relative clause, using information from the box.

Joining Sentences Worksheet

Joining Sentences

Join each set of sentences using who or which.

Complete the Clause Worksheet

Complete the Clauses

Complete each relative clause by adding who or that in the blank.

Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Worksheet

Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses

Find these in each of the sentences. Write R if the clause is restrictive; write N if the clause is non-restrictive.

Pairing Sentences Worksheet

Pairing Sentences

Combine each set of sentences using this technique that we have been discussing.

As Adjectives Worksheet

Using Relative Clauses as Adjectives

Rewrite each set of sentences so that it is a single sentence using the clause as an adjective.

Modify Worksheet

What Does it Modify?

Each sentence below contains a relative clause. Underline it and then circle the noun that it modified. You can also rewrite them for extra credit.

Who, Whose, That Worksheet

Who, Whose, That

Complete each relative clause by adding who, whose, where, or that in the blank.

Relative Pronouns Worksheet

Relative Pronouns and Clauses

Rewrite each sentence, adding a relative pronoun. You may also add a verb, if necessary.

Relative Pronouns Worksheet 2

Identify Relative Pronouns

Underline the correct relative pronoun to complete each sentence.

Necessary Worksheet

Is it Necessary?

Read each sentence. Is the relative pronoun in the sentence necessary? Write YES or NO on the line.

Modify Worksheet

What Does the Relative Clause Modify?

Each sentence below contains a relative clause. What does the clause modify? Write the word on the line.

Quick Quiz

Quick Quiz

Read each sentence, then answer the questions. This will help you understand where you stand with this series of skills.

What are Relative Clauses in Sentences?

Clauses that are clausal modifiers of noun phrases are called relative clauses. These clauses are the apex of the relative arrangement. The head of the sentence binds the variable in the subordinate clause. Example: Peter read a story that Clark wanted, where "read" is a relative word and “wanted” is an embedded verb. As an alternative, a non-restrictive relative clause can also be used.

One thing that all relative clauses have in common is that they always begin with a relative pronoun. You will find these forms clauses often used in nonfictional bodies of work since they tend to be included in generalized statements. Writing compelling content that stirs emotions in readers involves applying a wide variety of grammar techniques to mix it up a bit. As one of the easier grammar concepts to implement, it require the use of a pronoun placed within a clause that describes a noun.

Use in Sentences

Nearly every language uses relative clauses. Various techniques generate relative sentences, some of which are linked to certain elements of language, such as word order and the availability of certain pronouns. Some languages use relative pronouns, while others use resumptive pronouns or leave the relative argument out of the subordinate sentence entirely, depending on the language. Syntactic functions that can be relativized are different in different languages. Interestingly, a single language can have multiple varieties of relative phrases.

The Different Types

The following are the types of modifiers:

1. Restrictive

Restrictive relative clauses provide information essential to its identification when used with a noun. You will have to use who or that for living things and which or that for nonliving things. Commas are not necessary before or after these clauses.

For Instance

The artwork is pleasing to the eye.

Now the question arises, which artwork is the writer talking about? It is impossible to recognize it without a relative clause. You can write the following to specify:

- The artwork is displayed in the XYZ gallery.

- The artwork in the XYZ gallery is particularly pleasing to the eye.

Or you can join the two and make things simpler.

- The artwork that's displayed in the XYZ gallery is particularly pleasing to the eye.

2. Non-Restrictive

You can include additional information by using a non-restrictive forms and use that as a relative pronoun in a non-restrictive forms. This can change the meaning of an entire argument.

For Instance

My friend is contemplating the idea of opening an eatery. When it comes to cooking, my friend is the best.

Non-restrictive relative clauses can be formed by adding commas before the noun. Now the sentence becomes:

As a result of my friend's culinary skills and enthusiasm, she's contemplating the idea of opening an eatery.

3. Reducing Them

You can reduce some relative clauses by omitting the relative pronoun. If you want to write concisely, you should consider omitting the clause entirely. There are many ways to reduce both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.

You can add subject pronouns by adding “ing” to the verb.

- The artwork in the XYZ gallery is particularly pleasing to the eye.

That becomes:

- The artwork adorning the XYZ gallery is particularly pleasing to the eye.

It is possible to eliminate the use of object pronouns.

I like the cycle that my brother gifted me.

That becomes:

I like the cycle my brother gifted me.

4. Adjective Clauses

It is a type of dependent clause known as the related clause. It contains a subject and a verb, yet it is incomprehensible on its own. Adjective clauses are so named because they have the same role as adjectives, i.e., they provide additional information about the subject of the sentence.

Final Words

We hope we've answered your question of how to use this in your own language. Master the art of writing by incorporating these clauses into your sentences.