Relative Clauses (Advanced) (IELTS, TOEFL, YDS Practice) – B2 Grammar Test
This B2 grammar test focuses on advanced relative clauses, including defining vs non-defining clauses, reference clauses, reduced relatives, and relative adverbs, all of which are frequently tested in IELTS Writing, TOEFL Reading, and YDS grammar.
Choose the correct answer.
RESULTS
#1. The woman ___ son won the prize is my neighbour.
#2. This is the book ___ I told you about.
#3. My brother, ___ lives in Canada, is coming to visit us.
#4. The company ___ he works is expanding rapidly.
#5. That’s the reason ___ she left early.
#6. The laptop ___ stolen yesterday has been found.
#7. She gave me a report ___ conclusions were surprising.
#8. Paris, ___ is the capital of France, attracts millions of tourists.
#9. This is the only solution ___ makes sense.
#10. The building ___ they held the conference has been renovated.
#11. Anyone ___ wants to apply must submit a CV.
#12. The manager spoke to the employees, ___ made them feel appreciated.
#13. The people ___ houses were damaged will receive compensation.
#14. The article ___ published last week caused a lot of debate.
#15. This is the town ___ I grew up.
✅ Answer Key with VERY DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
🧠 B2 Relative Clause Logic (IELTS · TOEFL · YDS)
🔑 Core Principles (Read First)
At B2 level, relative clauses are tested for:
reference accuracy (person, thing, place, reason)
defining vs non-defining distinction
ability to reduce clauses
correct use of relative adverbs
Exams focus on meaning and clarity, not mechanical replacement.
1. whose
Explanation:
The sentence shows possession (the woman’s son). Whose is the only relative pronoun that expresses possession for both people and things.
❌ who → refers to a person, not possession
❌ which → refers to things only
📌 Very common YDS possession test
2. which
Explanation:
The relative pronoun refers to the book, which is an object of the verb about. In defining clauses, which is acceptable for things.
❌ where → refers to places
❌ whose → possession, not reference
📌 IELTS Writing object-relative usage
3. who
Explanation:
This is a non-defining relative clause (extra information), so that cannot be used. Who correctly refers to a person.
❌ that → not used in non-defining clauses
❌ which → not for people
📌 IELTS punctuation + grammar control
4. where
Explanation:
Where replaces in which and refers to a place (the company as a workplace).
❌ which / that → would require in (which he works in)
📌 TOEFL place-reference logic
5. why
Explanation:
Why refers to reasons and replaces for which.
❌ which → requires a preposition
❌ that → informal and less precise at B2
📌 YDS reason-reference favorite
6. — (no relative pronoun)
Explanation:
This is a reduced relative clause. The full form is which was stolen yesterday. Since the pronoun is the object, it can be omitted.
❌ which was / that was → correct but less advanced
📌 B2 reduction skill marker
7. whose
Explanation:
Possession (the report’s conclusions) requires whose.
❌ which / that → cannot show possession
📌 Advanced IELTS academic writing
8. which
Explanation:
This is a non-defining clause giving extra information about Paris. Which is required.
❌ that → never used in non-defining clauses
❌ where → place adverb, but subject role needed
📌 IELTS Task 1 location descriptions
9. that
Explanation:
After the only, defining relative clauses strongly prefer that.
❌ which → less natural here
❌ what → never used as a relative pronoun
📌 High-frequency YDS structure rule
10. where
Explanation:
Refers to the place in which the conference was held.
❌ which / that → would require in
📌 TOEFL academic context
11. who
Explanation:
Refers to people (anyone). Who is correct.
❌ which → things
❌ where → places
📌 YDS indefinite pronoun logic
12. which
Explanation:
Which refers to the entire previous clause (the manager spoke to the employees). This is called a reference clause.
❌ that → cannot refer to a whole clause
❌ who → only for people
📌 IELTS cause–effect cohesion
13. whose
Explanation:
Possession again (people’s houses).
❌ who → no possession
❌ which → wrong reference
📌 Recurrent YDS trap
14. — (no relative pronoun)
Explanation:
Reduced defining relative clause. Full form: that was published last week. Reduction is preferred at B2 level.
❌ which was / that was → correct but less advanced
📌 IELTS style: conciseness
15. where
Explanation:
Where correctly refers to a place (the town).
❌ which / that → would need in
📌 TOEFL narrative grammar
🧠 Final B2 Relative Clause Survival Notes
Use who / which / whose / where / why based on meaning
Avoid that in non-defining clauses
Reduce clauses when possible for academic style
Use which to refer to whole clauses
This is true B2 grammar control, not pattern matching.
