Practise this grammar point with a scored quiz, sentence exercises and writing tasks—all with explanations or review guidance.
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A relative clause describes a noun. Who normally refers to people; which to things; whose to possession. A defining clause identifies which person or thing. A non-defining clause adds extra information and uses commas.
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Person | The tutor who helped me is here. | Who is the subject of helped. |
| Thing | The book which I borrowed is useful. | Which is the object of borrowed. |
| Possession | The learner whose bag is blue is waiting. | Whose connects the person with their possession. |
Check: The tutor who she helped me
Use: The tutor who helped me
Who already supplies the subject; do not add she for the same role.
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
who. Who refers to a person.
where. Where refers to the place in which the studying happens.
whose. Whose connects the writer to the book they wrote.
which. A non-defining clause about a thing uses which, not that.
The person who helped me was kind.. Who is the appropriate relative pronoun for the person.
who. Who refers to a person and is the subject of lives.
that. That can refer to a thing in a defining relative clause.
where. Where refers to a place and stands for at which in this sentence.
whose. Whose shows possession: the brother belongs to the student’s family.
The people who arrived early got seats.. Who refers to people and acts as the subject of arrived.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
who
The man who repaired our roof lives nearby. (use who)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
which
The camera which I bought is very light. (use which)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
whose
That is the artist whose work won the prize.
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
where
This is the hall where we rehearse.
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
that
The letter that arrived today is for you. (use that)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
who
I met someone who speaks six languages. (use who)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
which
The jacket which you lent me is warm. (use which)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
whose
The family whose dog escaped put up notices.
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
where
We visited the village where my mother grew up.
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
who
The students who finished early helped others. (use who)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
that
This is the recipe that I recommend. (use that)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
whose
The person whose phone rang apologised.
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
where
Is that the building where your office is?
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
which
The train which leaves at noon is direct. (use which)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
who
I thanked the nurse who helped me. (use who)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
whose
The writer whose novel we read is visiting.
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
where
The hotel where we stayed had a pool.
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
that
The shoes that I ordered have arrived. (use that)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
who
The woman who teaches music is absent. (use who)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
which
The device which controls the heating has stopped. (use which)
Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession and where for places. Follow the requested form where alternatives are possible.
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
Your wording can vary.
Use a defining who clause with a clear verb.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use which or that and a complete relative clause.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use whose before the possessed noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use where to connect the place and the event.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Avoid repeating the teacher as a second subject inside the relative clause.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Which or that can be the object, with you as the clause’s subject.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use who and ensure the verb agrees with the plural group.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use which or that as the subject of the defining clause.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Who refers to a person; whose expresses possession.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Check that each relative word refers clearly to its noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
Repair: The student which bag is missing is here.
The student whose bag is missing is here. Whose expresses possession and comes before bag.
Join these ideas without repeating the noun: I met a tutor. She teaches evening classes.
I met a tutor who teaches evening classes. Who links the tutor to the description and is the subject of teaches.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
Identify exactly which person or thing you mean.
Choose the time you have. These are suggested study plans, not timers.
Answer the ten-question quiz. Read the explanation for each mistake before trying again.
Take the scored quiz →30 MINComplete the warm-up, then sets 2 and 3. Compare your answers and correct the patterns you missed.
Open sentence practice →60 MINWork through all four sets. Spend the final part writing, comparing and improving your own sentences.
Explore all four sets →Open the question that matches where you got stuck.
Use who for people and which for things. In defining clauses, that can often replace who or which. Use where for a place relationship and when for a time relationship: “the room where we meet”; “the day when we met.”
Whose shows possession and comes before a noun: “The learner whose notebook is missing can use mine.” Here, whose notebook means that learner’s notebook. Do not write “who’s notebook”: who’s means who is or who has.
Compare “the room where we study” with “the room which we painted.” We study in a room, so where expresses the place relationship. We painted the room, so which is the object of painted. “The room in which we study” is a more formal alternative to where.
A fresh set of 10 questions with explanations. Continue when you are ready.
Next challenge: Defining relative clauses →