Relative Clauses Worksheets for ESL — AI Generated
Edooqoo generates relative clauses worksheets in under 60 seconds using AI. The platform creates personalized exercises covering relative pronouns (who, which, that, where, when, whose), defining and non-defining clauses, reduced relative clauses, and prepositions with relative pronouns — all calibrated to your students' CEFR level.
Relative clauses allow speakers to combine information, add detail, and create more complex sentences. They're essential for moving beyond simple sentence structures and are a key marker of intermediate-to-advanced English proficiency. Students who master relative clauses can write more sophisticated texts and speak with greater fluency.
Relative Pronouns Reference
Pronoun
Refers to
Function
Example
who
People
Subject/Object
The woman who lives next door is a teacher.
which
Things/Animals
Subject/Object
The book which I bought is excellent.
that
People/Things
Subject/Object (defining only)
The car that he drives is red.
whose
Possession
Possessive
The student whose phone rang apologized.
where
Places
Adverbial
The city where I grew up is small.
when
Times
Adverbial
I remember the day when we met.
Defining vs. Non-Defining Clauses
Defining Relative Clauses (Restrictive)
Essential information — identifies which person/thing we mean. No commas. "That" can replace who/which.
The students who passed the exam received certificates. (Which students? The ones who passed.)
Can be introduced at A2-B1 level with simple structures
Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Non-Restrictive)
Extra information — adds detail but doesn't identify. Uses commas. "That" cannot be used.
My sister, who lives in London, is visiting us. (I only have one sister — the clause adds info.)
Typically introduced at B1-B2 level
Teaching Relative Clauses by CEFR Level
A2-B1: Foundation
Defining clauses with who, which, that as subject
Simple sentence combining: "I met a man. He speaks 5 languages." → "I met a man who speaks 5 languages."
Where for places, when for times
B1-B2: Expansion
Non-defining clauses with commas
Object relative pronouns (which can be omitted): "The film (that) we saw was great"
Whose for possession
Prepositions in relative clauses: "The person to whom I spoke..." vs. "The person who I spoke to..."
C1-C2: Mastery
Reduced relative clauses: "The man sitting next to me..." (= who is sitting)
Formal preposition placement: "in which," "for whom"
Nominal relative clauses: "What I need is more time"
Cleft sentences: "It was John who called" / "What surprised me was..."
Best Exercise Types
Sentence Combining — Join two simple sentences using a relative pronoun
Fill in the Blanks — Choose the correct relative pronoun
Gap Text (Cloze) — Complete a text with missing relative clauses
Paraphrasing — Rewrite with reduced relative clauses
Common Errors
"The man which I saw" → Use "who" for people
"My brother, that lives in Paris" → Can't use "that" in non-defining clauses
Missing commas in non-defining → "My car which is blue..." should have commas if non-defining
Double subject → "The woman who she called me" (remove "she")
Omitting subject relative pronouns → "The man __ lives here" (can't omit subject relative pronoun)
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I introduce relative clauses?
Simple defining clauses with who/which/that can be introduced at A2 level with sentence combining exercises. Non-defining clauses are typically B1-B2, and reduced relatives are B2-C1. Edooqoo adjusts complexity based on the CEFR level you select.
How do I explain when to use commas?
The key question is: "Does the clause identify which one?" If yes (defining) → no commas. If no (extra info about something already identified) → commas. Use minimal pairs: "My brother who lives in Paris..." (I have multiple brothers) vs. "My brother, who lives in Paris,..." (I have one brother).
Should I teach 'that' as a universal relative pronoun?
In informal English, "that" can replace "who" and "which" in defining clauses. Teaching this actually simplifies things for lower levels. Just make clear that "that" cannot be used in non-defining clauses or after prepositions.