Relative Clauses and Reference Problems
About this practice test
Practise B2 Use of English through sentence editing. Build accuracy with relative clauses and reference and pronoun choice.
What you’ll practice
Grammar and vocabulary
Choose forms and words that work together.
Meaning in context
Follow meaning across sentences and texts.
Accurate expression
Use natural phrases and sentence patterns.
What to expect:
12 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Error correction
How to approach this practice
Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.
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Question 1 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The company, that employs fifty people, is expanding.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The company, which employs fifty people, is expanding.
A non-defining relative clause about a company requires which, not that.
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Question 2 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The researcher which led the study is speaking today.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The researcher who led the study is speaking today. / The researcher that led the study is speaking today.
A person in a defining relative clause takes who or that.
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Question 3 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The report what you requested is attached.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The report that you requested is attached. / The report which you requested is attached. / The report you requested is attached.
A defining object relative takes that, which or no pronoun, not what.
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Question 4 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. This is the town which I grew up.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- This is the town where I grew up. / This is the town in which I grew up. / This is the town which I grew up in. / This is the town I grew up in. / This is the town that I grew up in.
The clause needs a place relation, expressed with where or in.
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Question 5 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The author who's book won the prize lives nearby.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The author whose book won the prize lives nearby.
Whose marks possession; who's means who is or who has.
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Question 6 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. We spoke to three residents, all of which opposed the plan.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- We spoke to three residents, all of whom opposed the plan.
After of, people take whom rather than which in this relative construction.
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Question 7 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The road was closed, what caused a long delay.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The road was closed, which caused a long delay.
Which can refer to the preceding clause as a whole.
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Question 8 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The colleague to who I spoke has left.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The colleague to whom I spoke has left. / The colleague who I spoke to has left. / The colleague whom I spoke to has left. / The colleague I spoke to has left. / The colleague that I spoke to has left.
After a fronted preposition, formal object whom is required.
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Question 9 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The reason because she left remains unclear.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The reason why she left remains unclear. / The reason she left remains unclear. / The reason for which she left remains unclear.
The relative clause after reason uses why, no pronoun or for which.
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Question 10 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The equipment, most of them was old, needed replacing.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The equipment, most of which was old, needed replacing.
Most of which introduces the non-defining clause about equipment.
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Question 11 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The cafe where we met there has closed.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The cafe where we met has closed.
Where already supplies the location; there is redundant in the relative clause.
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Question 12 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The people who they organised the event were volunteers.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The people who organised the event were volunteers. / The people who organized the event were volunteers.
Who is already the subject of organised; they is redundant.
What to review next
Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.