Relative and Intensive Pronouns — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which sentence best combines: 'The author writes mysteries. The author visited our class.'?
A) The author, who writes mysteries, visited our class.
B) The author whom writes mysteries visited our class.
C) The author writes mysteries which visited our class.
D) The author, whose writes mysteries, visited our class.
'Who' is the subject relative pronoun, and commas mark a nonessential clause modifying the antecedent.
2. Which sentence best combines: 'The bike has flat tires. I borrowed the bike.'?
A) The bike whom I borrowed has flat tires.
B) The bike that I borrowed has flat tires.
C) The bike whose I borrowed has flat tires.
D) The bike who I borrowed has flat tires.
'That' introduces essential clauses that modify nouns referring to things.
3. Which sentence best combines: 'My grandmother bakes pies. Her pies win prizes.'?
A) My grandmother, who pies win prizes, bakes them often.
B) My grandmother, whom pies win prizes, bakes them often.
C) My grandmother, whose pies win prizes, bakes them often.
D) My grandmother, that pies win prizes, bakes them often.
'Whose' is the possessive relative pronoun and links an antecedent to something it owns.
4. Which sentence best combines: 'The lake is in the park. The lake freezes in winter.'?
A) The lake, which freezes in winter, is in the park.
B) The lake, who freezes in winter, is in the park.
C) The lake, whom freezes in winter, is in the park.
D) The lake, whose freezes in winter, is in the park.
'Which' introduces nonessential clauses that modify nouns referring to things.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The musician who played the violin solo earned a standing ovation.
'Who' acts as the subject of the relative clause modifying 'musician.'
2. The novel that I finished last night had a surprise ending.
'That' introduces essential clauses modifying nouns referring to things.
3. The writer whose stories I love is signing books today.
'Whose' connects an antecedent to a possessed noun in a relative clause.
4. The mountain, which reaches the clouds, is climbed each summer.
'Which' introduces nonessential clauses that modify nouns referring to things.
5. The coach whom we trust most plans every practice carefully.
'Whom' acts as the object of a verb or preposition inside the relative clause.