We have already talked about restrictive and nonrestrictive adjective clauses. If you don’t know about these clauses, please read about them in the given link and then attempt the Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Adjective Clauses Exercise given below.
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Adjective Clauses Exercise
Exercise 1:
Directions: Add commas where necessary.
1. Only people who speak Russian should apply for the job.
2. Irina who speaks Russian applied for the job.
3. Marco and Guillermo who did not come to class yesterday explained their absence to the instructor.
4. The students who did not come to class yesterday explained their absence to the teacher.
5. The geologist who lectured at Browning Hall last night predicted another earthquake.
6. Dr. Fields who lectured at Browning Hall last night predicted another earthquake.
7. The rice which we had for dinner last night was very good.
8. Rice which is grown in many countries is a staple food throughout much of the world.
9. I have good memories of my hometown which is situated in the mountains.
10. I live in a town which is situated in the mountains.
11. The Mississippi River which flows south from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico is the major commercial river in the United States.
12. A river which is polluted is not safe for swimming.
13. The man whom I spoke to was wearing a black hat.
14. Dr. Mike who must have been in his forties really scared me.
15. We enjoyed Mexico City where we spent our vacation.
Exercise 2:
Directions: Complete the sentences with the relative pronouns who, whom, which, whose, where, when. Then answer the Yes/No questions.
1. George Washington is the president ________________________picture is on a one-dollar bill.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
2. I like the people with _______________________________ I work.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
3. Have you seen the movie ____________________________ is playing at the Harvard Movie Theater?
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
4. Do you know the woman ___________________________John is engaged to?
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
5. We are planning to go to Albany, _______________________ is the capital of New York.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
6. A thermometer is an instrument ___________________________ measures the temperature.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
7. I have a friend _________________________________ father is a famous artist.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
8. December 25th is the day on ___________________ Christians celebrate Christmas.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
9. The neighborhood ______________________I live is not safe.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
10. People ___________________ live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
- A. Can you put the relative pronoun “that” in the blank? Yes No
- B. Can you delete the relative pronoun? Yes No
Exercise 3:
Read the following sentences and put commas around the non-restrictive clauses. Put an N after the sentences that are non-restrictive. Put an R after the sentences that contain a restrictive clause. Leave those sentences without internal punctuation. A few of the sentences could be either, but the meaning would change.
1. Charles Dickens who was a great writer in the late 19th Century is the author of Little Dorrit.
2. The piece of chocolate cake which probably has a million calories in it was delicious.
3. My favorite place to ski is Snow Basin which is one of the least crowded resorts.
4. The guy that my old roommate married is boring.
5. He reads and studies maps for fun which is no exaggeration.
6. I love the weather which has been so nice lately in Arizona.
7. My graduation from Arizona State University this August which I am extremely elated about has been hard earned.
8. I am jealous of the guy in my neighborhood who drives a brand new expensive car.
9. Methods of Teaching English which is my favorite class this semester meets on Tuesday nights.
10. I had the answer that made the most sense.
Answers:
Exercise 1.
1. Only people who speak Russian should apply for the job.
2. Irina who speaks Russian applied for the job.
3. Marco and Guillermo who did not come to class yesterday explained their absence to the instructor.
4. The students who did not come to class yesterday explained their absence to the teacher.
5. The geologist who lectured at Browning Hall last night predicted another earthquake.
6. Dr. Fields who lectured at Browning Hall last night predicted another earthquake.
7. The rice, which we had for dinner last night, was very good.
8. Rice, which is grown in many countries, is a staple food throughout much of the world.
9. I have good memories of my hometown, which is situated in the mountains.
10. I live in a town, which is situated in the mountains.
11. The Mississippi River, which flows south from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, is the major commercial river in the United States.
12. A river, which is polluted, is not safe for swimming.
13. The man whom I spoke to was wearing a black hat.
14. Dr. Mike who must have been in his forties really scared me.
15. We enjoyed Mexico City where we spent our vacation.
Exercise 2.
1. George Washington is the president whose picture is on a one-dollar bill.
- No
- No
2. I like the people with whom I work.
- No
- No
3. Have you seen the movie that is playing at the Harvard Movie Theater?
- Yes
- No
4. Do you know the woman that John is engaged to?
- Yes
- Yes
5. We are planning to go to Albany; which is the capital of New York.
- No
- No
6. A thermometer is an instrument, which measures the temperature.
- Yes
- Yes
7. I have a friend whose father is a famous artist.
- No
- No
8. December 25th is the day on which Christians celebrate Christmas.
- Yes
- No
9. The neighborhood where I live is not safe.
- No
- Yes
10. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
- Yes
- Yes
Exercise 3:
- Charles Dickens, who was a great writer in the late 19th Century, is the author of Little Dorito.
- N
- The piece of chocolate cake, which probably has a million calories in it, was delicious.
- N
- My favorite place to ski is Snow Basin, which is one of the least crowded resorts.
- N
- The guy that my old roommate married to is boring.
- R
- He reads and studies maps for fun, which is no exaggeration.
- R
- I love the weather, which has been so nice lately in Arizona.
- R
- My graduation from Arizona State University this August, which I am extremely elated about, has been hard earned.
- N
- I am jealous of the person in my neighborhood, who drives a brand new expensive car.
- N
- Methods of Teaching English, which is my favorite class this semester meets on Tuesday nights.
- N
- I had the answer that made the most sense.
- R