This document provides examples of defining and non-defining relative clauses. It gives 11 sentences and asks the reader to add a relative clause to each one using the provided information. Defining relative clauses are added without commas while non-defining clauses use commas. The key provides the answers, identifying each clause as defining or non-defining and adding commas as needed.

1. B1+ Basic - Relative Clauses - Defining and Non Defining
Relative Clauses
Defining and Non-defining
• Add one of the pieces of information below to each sentence.
• Add an appropriate relative pronoun.
• Put the relative clause in the right place in the sentence.
• Add commas if necessary.
-has almost 100 members -are growing in Seven Acre wood -is an aviation expert
-you don’t understand -is set in the centre of Turkey -started last month
-stand up all day in their job -caused so much damage in the city -I went to school with
-head office is in Istanbul -stole a car from outside the supermarket
1. The university table tennis club meets every weekday evening.
..........................................................................................................................................
2. People often suffer from backache.
..........................................................................................................................................
3. Professor Brian Wright was asked to comment on the latest helicopter crash.
..........................................................................................................................................
4. The airline has recently started flights between Istanbul and New York.
..........................................................................................................................................
5. The strike by train drivers is costing the country over ₤1 million per week.
..........................................................................................................................................
6. The trees are being destroyed by a strange disease.
..........................................................................................................................................
7. Go through the passage and mark the words.
..........................................................................................................................................
8. The police are looking for two boys aged about 14.
..........................................................................................................................................
9. Bill Stravingham’s new film is his best yet.
..........................................................................................................................................
10. My friend has just gone to live in Ankara.
..........................................................................................................................................
11. The hurricane has now headed out to sea.
..........................................................................................................................................
1

2. B1+ Basic - Relative Clauses - Defining and Non Defining
Answer Key
Relative Clauses
Defining and Non-defining
1. The university table tennis club meets every weekday evening.
, which has almost 100 members, - Non-defining - commas..........................................
2. People often suffer from backache.
who/that stand up all day in their job - Defining – no commas......................................
3. Professor Brian Wright was asked to comment on the latest helicopter crash.
, who is an aviation expert, - Non-defining - commas.....................................................
4. The airline has recently started flights between Istanbul and New York.
whose head office is in Istanbul - Defining – no commas...............................................
5. The strike by train drivers is costing the country over ₤1 million per week.
, which started last month, - Non-defining - commas.....................................................
6. The trees are being destroyed by a strange disease.
which/that are growing in Seven Acre wood - Defining – no commas..........................
7. Go through the passage and mark the words.
which/that you don’t understand - Defining – no commas............................................
8. The police are looking for two boys aged about 14.
who stole a car from outside the supermarket - Defining – no commas.........................
9. Bill Stravingham’s new film is his best yet.
, which is set in the centre of Turkey, - Non-defining - commas....................................
10. My friend has just gone to live in Ankara.
who/that I went to school with - Defining – no commas................................................
11. The hurricane has now headed out to sea.
, which caused so much damage in the city, - Non-defining - commas..........................
2