TOEIC Part 5: Relative Clauses Non Defining — Rule, Examples, and 20 Practice Questions

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Understanding Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses add extra information to a sentence and are separated by commas. They use relative pronouns like 'who', 'which', 'where', and 'whose'. These clauses are essential for TOEIC Part 5, as they appear frequently in reading comprehension questions.

Rule of Non-Defining Relative Clauses

1. Comma Usage: Non-defining clauses are always surrounded by commas.
2. Relative Pronouns: Use 'who' for people, 'which' for things, 'where' for places, and 'whose' for possession.
3. Additional Information: They provide extra details that are not essential to the sentence's meaning.

Examples

1. People: My friend, who lives next door, is a doctor.
2. Things: The book, which is on the table, is mine.
3. Places: The park, where we played as children, is now a shopping center.
4. Possession: The man, whose car is parked outside, is my uncle.

Model Answers

Score Level 6.0 (IELTS) / 250-300 (TOEIC)

Prompt: Choose the best answer to complete the sentence.

The company, ______ is located in Tokyo, has opened a new branch in Osaka.

Answer: which

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response: The answer correctly identifies the relative pronoun needed for a non-defining clause.
• Coherence and Cohesion: The sentence is grammatically correct but lacks sophistication.
• Lexical Resource: Basic vocabulary is used.
• Grammar: The grammar is accurate but simple.

Score Level 7.0 (IELTS) / 350-400 (TOEIC)

Prompt: Choose the best answer to complete the sentence.

The project, ______ we worked on last year, won an award.

Answer: on which

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response: The answer correctly uses the relative pronoun and preposition.
• Coherence and Cohesion: The sentence is well-structured and clear.
• Lexical Resource: Appropriate vocabulary is used.
• Grammar: The grammar is accurate and more complex.

Score Level 8.0 (IELTS) / 450-500 (TOEIC)

Prompt: Choose the best answer to complete the sentence.

The scientist, ______ research was groundbreaking, received a Nobel Prize.

Answer: whose

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response: The answer correctly uses the relative pronoun for possession.
• Coherence and Cohesion: The sentence is well-structured and sophisticated.
• Lexical Resource: Advanced vocabulary is used effectively.
• Grammar: The grammar is accurate and complex.

Score Level 9.0 (IELTS) / 550-600 (TOEIC)

Prompt: Choose the best answer to complete the sentence.

The city, ______ historical sites attract millions of tourists annually, is planning to expand its infrastructure.

Answer: the historical sites of which

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response: The answer correctly uses the relative pronoun and preposition in a complex structure.
• Coherence and Cohesion: The sentence is highly sophisticated and well-structured.
• Lexical Resource: Advanced and precise vocabulary is used.
• Grammar: The grammar is accurate and complex.

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Comma: A punctuation mark used to separate clauses.

• Example: The car, which is red, is mine.

1. Relative Pronoun: A pronoun that introduces a relative clause.

• Example: The woman who called you is my mother.

1. Additional Information: Extra details that are not essential to the sentence's meaning.

• Example: The book, which is on the table, is mine.

1. Possession: The state of owning or having something.

• Example: The man whose car is parked outside is my uncle.

1. Sophistication: The quality of being complex and refined.

• Example: The sentence is highly sophisticated.

Common Mistakes

1. Omitting Commas: Forgetting to use commas to separate non-defining clauses.
2. Incorrect Relative Pronouns: Using the wrong relative pronoun for the context.
3. Lack of Additional Information: Failing to provide extra details in the clause.
4. Possession Errors: Incorrectly using 'whose' for possession.
5. Complexity Issues: Struggling with complex sentence structures.

20 Practice Questions

1. The movie, ______ we watched last night, was fantastic.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The man, ______ is standing over there, is my boss.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The park, ______ we used to play, is now a construction site.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The book, ______ cover is blue, is on the shelf.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The woman, ______ dog is barking, lives next door.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The city, ______ is known for its beauty, attracts many tourists.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The project, ______ we completed last year, was successful.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The house, ______ is painted red, belongs to my aunt.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The scientist, ______ research is groundbreaking, received an award.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The company, ______ headquarters are in New York, has branches worldwide.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The restaurant, ______ food is delicious, is very popular.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The student, ______ essay won the competition, is from our school.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The city, ______ historical sites are famous, is a tourist destination.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The book, ______ author is well-known, is a bestseller.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The park, ______ we visited last summer, has beautiful flowers.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The man, ______ car is parked outside, is my neighbor.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The company, ______ products are innovative, is a leader in the industry.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The woman, ______ is speaking at the conference, is an expert.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The city, ______ is known for its festivals, is very lively.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

1. The project, ______ we are working on, is very important.

• a) who
• b) which
• c) where
• d) whose

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