11+ Relative Clauses: Pronouns, Meaning and Comma Questions
Identify complete relative clauses, choose pronouns and preserve defining or additional meaning with eight original explained questions.
Compare “The runners who wore blue finished first” with “The runners, who wore blue, finished first.” In the first, the clause identifies a group of runners. In the second, it adds information about the runners already being discussed. The commas affect the meaning, so an edit needs more thought than simply inserting a pause.
These original explanations and questions support preparation for 11-plus exams taken in 2027. They are not official papers or a complete school syllabus. Check your target school’s guidance and try each question before opening the explanation. Written English models show a supported response, not the only acceptable wording.
Find what the clause describes
In “The lantern that stood by the door flickered”, the relative clause is “that stood by the door”. It describes the lantern. The main clause is “The lantern flickered”. Include the whole describing clause when asked to identify it, not only its opening word. The noun or noun phrase it refers to is sometimes called its antecedent.
| Opening word | Useful role |
|---|---|
| who | Refers to a person |
| which | Refers to a thing; can introduce additional information |
| that | Can introduce a defining relative clause |
| whose | Expresses a relationship of possession |
These are useful roles rather than an exclusive one-word answer for every sentence. In a defining clause about a person, both who and that may work. A question must supply a restriction or accept the alternatives. Standard non-defining clauses use who, which or another appropriate relative expression rather than that.
Worked example: make the intended meaning explicit
Suppose a class has several folders and only the red ones need collecting. “The folders that are red need collecting” identifies that subset; no separating commas are needed. If there is one already identified folder and its colour is extra information, “The folder, which is red, needs collecting” sets that information off with paired commas.
When can an opening pronoun disappear?
In “The book that I borrowed is missing”, that is the object of borrowed. We can write “The book I borrowed is missing”. In “The book that fell is missing”, that is the subject of fell and cannot simply be removed. This subject/object check is more reliable than assuming short words are optional. Non-defining relative clauses do not allow this same omission.
The British Council explanation distinguishes additional information and its punctuation. Read each practice instruction carefully: some ask for one specified form rather than every possible rewrite.
Eight original questions
Identify the complete relative clause in “The cyclist who won the race thanked her coach.”
Show answer and explanation
who won the race
Who introduces a clause describing the cyclist. The main clause is The cyclist thanked her coach.
Choose who or which: “The gardener ___ planted the tree returned.”
Show answer and explanation
who
Gardener refers to a person. The instruction limits the choice to who or which.
Choose whose or who’s: “The pupil ___ bag was missing asked for help.”
Show answer and explanation
whose
Whose indicates that the bag belongs to the pupil. Who’s means who is or who has.
Add paired commas to mark the extra information in “My only uncle who lives in York is visiting.”
Show answer and explanation
My only uncle, who lives in York, is visiting.
The instruction makes the clause additional information. Put one comma before it and one after it.
Only the pencils with broken tips need sharpening. Does “The pencils that have broken tips need sharpening” need commas around the relative clause?
Show answer and explanation
No
The clause identifies which pencils need sharpening. It is defining information in this stated context.
Remove the optional that from “The cake that we baked has cooled.”
Show answer and explanation
The cake we baked has cooled.
We is the subject of baked; that represents its object and can be omitted here.
Can that be removed from “The dog that barked woke us”?
Show answer and explanation
No
That is the subject of barked. Removing it leaves The dog barked woke us, which is not the intended structure.
Choose which or that for the extra-information clause: “The bridge, ___ opened last year, is closed today.”
Show answer and explanation
which
The commas signal a non-defining clause. Standard usage does not use that to introduce it.
A useful editing routine
Find the main clause first, then identify exactly what the relative clause describes. Decide whether it selects a subset or supplies extra information about an already identified subject. Finally check the opening word, any omission and the punctuation. Do not insert a second subject such as “who he” when who already supplies the subject of that relative clause.
Choose a useful next step
Apply the punctuation distinctions in the commas guide, and compare them with direct-speech punctuation. Return to the english learning hub or explore original practice and worked answers.
Sources and scope
The DfE programme of study provides a curriculum reference, not a promise about every school’s test. Examples and questions on this page are original; no school affiliation or educator endorsement is implied.
Ready to practise?
Choose original practice and use the answer explanations to decide what to work on next. These are not official school papers.