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Quick and Handy Grammar Review: Adjective Clauses Exercise 1
Quick and Handy Grammar Review: Adjective Clauses Exercise 1
Table of Contents
Quick and Handy Grammar Review: Adjective Clauses 2
Exercise 1:
Fill in the blanks to complete the description of a “typical modern family”. 4
Exercise 2:
Read the selection and underline or highlight all the adjective clauses. 5
Exercise 3:
Find, circle, and correct the mistakes in the sentences. 6
Exercise 4:
Complete the sentences using the correct verb tenses and punctuation. 7
Exercise 5:
Complete the sentences using the correct verb tenses and punctuation. 8
Exercise 6:
Analyze the different levels of formality in the sentences. 9
Exercise 7:
Punctuate the sentences. 10
Exercise 8:
Punctuate the sentences. 11
Exercise 9:
Compose sentences from the reading selection. 12
Exercise 10:
Review Test – Choose the correct answer. 13
Answer Key 14
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
The type of dependent clause that we will examine in this lesson is the adjective clause. Because adjective clauses
serve as adjectives, they describe nouns. They occur in three positions: after the subject, after the object of the
verb, after the object of a preposition. For example:
Johnny Depp, who is a Hollywood star, is most famous for Pirates of the Caribbean. [the clause describes
the subject Johnny Depp]
I called Joe Montana, who used to be a football player. [the clause describes the object Joe Montana]
I had a dream of my brother walking in front of the house where I used to live. [the clause describes the
word house, which is the object of the preposition of]
Make sure that you always place the adjective clause right after the noun it describes.
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
1. If the information is necessary for identification, do NOT place a comma in the sentence.
The man who married Gina sometimes cries when he looks at his wedding pictures.
The security guard chased the two men who had robbed the store.
The pigs which I saw at the zoo yesterday were sleeping in the mud.
2. If the information is NOT necessary for identification, place a comma in the sentence.
Prof. Jenkins, who teaches psychology, has written two books and many articles.
Mario left his laptop at Tourquaz Restaurant, where they have an internet café.
5. When the adjective clause describes the general idea expressed in the independent clause, a comma and
which are used.
Dina invented a popular app, which made her a rich woman.
The flight was two hours late, which meant that I missed my connecting flight.
The restaurant was crowded, which meant that we had to wait an hour to get a table.
1. The adjective clause always goes immediately after the noun it modifies.
2. Where and when are never the subject of a clause. They are always followed by a noun or a pronoun.
3. Whose is always followed by a noun (because it is possessive).
4. When a comma is placed after a noun, that cannot be used. You must use which.
5. The verb in the adjective clause must agree in number with the noun it modifies.
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 1:
The following is a description of a typical modern family. Try to fill in the missing words, paying close attention
to parts of speech, verb tense, and correct word forms.
I think _________ (1) I have a typical modern family. I am 24 years old, and I __________(2) two sisters
and two ___________ (3). I live in a very big house ________ (4) is located in Washington, DC. My father
and mother _______ (5) divorced five years _______ (6), and I went to _______(7) with my father. Last
year, _______ (8) got married to a woman _______ (9) had three children of her own. Now we all live
_________(12) hair is long and curly. Tony, _______ (13) stepbrother, is very different. He is a very serious
boy who plays video games ___________ (14) are made by Sony. ______ (15) stepmother, _______ (16) is
the manager of a fast food restaurant, is 18 years younger than my father. One month ago, my father and his
wife had a baby boy, _______(17) is my half brother. Last week, when my mother came to pick me up at my
school, __________ (18) I major in psychology, I told my friend David, _________ (19) has a good sense of
humor, “I have to run. My mother has come to ______ (20) me up.” Harry looked at the woman, _______
(21) looked more like my sister ________ (22) my mother, and said, “Your mother looks like she is the same
age as you! What an interesting __________ (23) you have!” And I think I do, _________ (24) makes life
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 2:
Read the following selection and underline or highlight all the adjective clauses.
My favorite sport is played during the summer. It is a sport which requires nine players on each team.
The people who play this sport must be fast, brave, and intelligent. Players who are fast and brave will be able to
react quickly to a ball that often travels at 90 miles (about 145 km) an hour or more. Players who are intelligent
will be able to decide what to do before the ball comes to them, and will react quickly and correctly even when
My favorite sport is interesting to watch. People who watch the game have a chance to discuss the
strategy of the teams and the quality of the players. Spectators who understand the game well know that they
have to watch two places on the field at the same time: the place where the ball is and the place where the runner
is. Wise spectators know that the players often make beautiful patterns on the field as they line up to relay the
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 3:
There are mistakes in the following sentences. Find, circle, and correct them. Rewrite the corrected sentences.
3. Mitt Romney, who a politician from Massachusetts might run for president.
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Messi won two championships who was born in a small town in Argentina.
______________________________________________________________________________
8. She will never forget the day when was her twenty-first birthday.
______________________________________________________________________________
10. Bollywood makes more films than Hollywood which is the movie capital of India.
______________________________________________________________________________
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 4:
Complete the following sentences using the information in parentheses. Be careful to use the correct verb tenses
and to punctuate carefully.
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 5:
Complete the following sentences using the information in parentheses. Be careful to use the correct verb tenses
and to punctuate carefully.
9. The ring ____________________________________ was made of cubic zirconium, not real diamonds.
(Josie gave her daughter a ring)
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 6:
Formal Vs. Informal – Read the following sentences and analyze differences in levels of formality. Which is the
most common? What is the effect of the first sentence in each group? Which one would you use in writing? In
speaking? Is the word “whom” still common?
_____ 1. a) The book about which I told you came out last year.
_____ c) The novel that I was talking about was published in Korea in 2007.
_____ 2. a) The man about whom I was talking is sitting in the corner.
_____ b) The woman I was talking about is wearing the red dress.
_____ d) The girl who I told you about works with me.
_____ e) The guy that I was telling you about is dating my friend.
_____ 3. a) The home in which I was brought up was on the same street as my school.
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 7:
Sentence Structures – Punctuate the following sentences. Pay close attention to the rules on pages 2 and 3.
2. Bill O’Grady comes from a small town which means that everyone knows everyone else.
3. She saw a picture of Joe’s brother Paul who has a scar on his nose.
4. The photograph in the magazine showed a woman whose hair was very short.
5. Henry has two sisters whose names are Nicolette and Anna.
6. Dr. Seismore who is a retired obstetrician still loves to talk to pregnant women.
7. The meal that Connie served last night was spicy which meant that I drank water all night.
9. Bobby met his girlfriend in Asti’s restaurant where the servers sing during the meal.
10. That is Betsy who I was telling you about five minutes ago.
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 8:
Sentence Structures – Punctuate the following sentences. Pay close attention to the rules on pages 2 and 3.
1. The food that John cooked last night tasted very bad.
2. Enza is a vegetarian which means that she does not eat meat.
5. The student whose grammar book was left in the classroom is studying with Dr. Lopez.
7. The bear Nestor shot last week is now on display in his living room.
9. The man who sold Bob the stolen watch was arrested last week.
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 9:
Grammar Practice – Read the following selection.
1) Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12th, 1809. 2) His family later moved
to Indiana. 3) He was given little formal education. 4) Abraham Lincoln walked miles to borrow books and
read them by firelight to educate himself. 5) He held several jobs in Illinois. 6) His law practice in Illinois
became successful. 7) He had a famous series of debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858. 8) He lost to
Douglas in the election for senator, but he gained a national reputation. 9) He was elected president in 1860.
10) In the same year, the Civil War began, and he claimed broad executive powers. 11) Some people said
that these powers were dictatorial. 12) He lacked a competent military commander for the Northern Army.
13) He suffered several serious defeats. 14) One of these defeats was the first Battle of Bull Run. 15) In the
Emancipation Proclamation, he declared that the slaves were free. 16) Military successes helped him gain
reelection in 1864. 17) Unlike many members of Congress, he wanted to be lenient and forgiving with the
Southern states. 18) John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln on April 14th, 1865. 19) Lincoln died the next
morning.
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 10:
Review Test – Choose the correct letter for each sentence.
1. I will never forget the time _____________ I lost the keys to my house.
a. where b. when c. during which d. who
2. Harry got fired from his job, ________ meant that he could collect unemployment insurance for 26 weeks.
a. that b. which c. who d. whose
3. The doctor treated the wounded man at the hotel ________ he had been shot.
a. who b. where c. which d. on which
4. The house _____________ Mary grew up is now owned by a minister and his wife.
a. where b. that c. which d. when
5. I have three brothers living in Texas, one of _________ is a meditation teacher in Houston.
a. whom b. who c. that d. them
6. Giovanni has a cousin _______________ nose is incredibly long.
a. who b. who’s c. whose d. who their
7. The people ___________ the singer danced along to the music.
a. watching b. who watching c. who watch d. who watches
8. Vincent Van Gogh was the type of painter ______________ use of colors was extraordinary.
a. who his b. that c. who d. whose
9. I discussed the ethical question with Prof. Mayer _______________ teaches philosophy and religion.
a. , who b. who c. that d. who he
10. Hyenas ________________ are rather small animals, are able to get food through cunning.
a. that b. , which c. which d. who
11. France ______________ people eat a great deal of cheese and drink lots of red wine, has a low incidence
of heart attacks.
a. where b. , where c. which d. that
12. I would never sit next to a person _____________ like raw garlic.
a. who he smelled b. whose smell c. who smelled d. that smell
13. Jose played soccer for a team ___________ lost every game it played.
a. who b. that c. which is d. that it
14. The movie ________________ last Saturday was incredibly dull.
a. I went to it b. I went to c. that I went d. which I went
15. The performer _____________ at the concert yesterday danced better than Jennifer Lopez.
a. I saw her b. that I saw her c. who I saw d. I see
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Answer Key
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
3. a) The home in which I was brought up was on the same street as my school.
b) The house where I was raised had two floors.
c) The house I grew up in had a large kitchen.
Notes: The first sentence is very formal and is usually only used in formal writing, not speaking. The
second sentence is the most common and informal. The third sentence is also common, but some strict
grammar teachers would object to the “dangling preposition” in.
!
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Adjective Clauses ✎
! Grammar Practice Worksheets
Spelling Note: This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Humor, Favorite, and Colors. Most other English-
speaking countries spell these words this way: Humour, Favourite, and Colours. Also, Canada and the US use Analyze
while other English-speaking countries use Analyse. Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in the
lesson and see if they know the alternate spellings.
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