Adjective Clause worksheet - Free Printable

Here are the correct answers for the adjective clause worksheet, with step-by-step reasoning for each question.

1. Modern humans, who first appeared about 16,000 thousand years ago \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ homo sapiens.
* Analysis: The sentence has a subject ("Modern humans") and a non-essential clause describing them ("who first appeared..."). We need a main verb to complete the thought. The phrase "homo sapiens" is what they are called.
* Option Check:
* (A) calling: This is a participle, not a main verb. It would leave the sentence incomplete.
* (B) were called: This is a passive verb phrase. "Modern humans... were called homo sapiens." This makes a complete, grammatically correct sentence.
* (C) They called: This creates a run-on or comma splice because we already have the subject "Modern humans." Adding "They" adds a second unnecessary subject.
* (D) they were called: Same error as (C). It repeats the subject.
* Selection: (B)

2. The first writing \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ evidence of is on Mesopotamian clay tablets.
* Analysis: This is a tricky sentence structure. The core idea is "The first writing [that] evidence of [exists] is on..." Actually, let's look closer. "The first writing... is on Mesopotamian clay tablets." The gap needs to connect "writing" to "evidence of."
* Let's re-read carefully: "The first writing \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ evidence of is on Mesopotamian clay tablets."
* This implies: "The first writing [of which there is evidence] is on..." or "The first writing [that we have evidence of] is on..."
* Let's test the options in the blank:
* (A) we: "The first writing we evidence of..." - Incorrect grammar.
* (B) that we: "The first writing that we evidence of..." - Still missing a verb like "have." Wait, looking at option D.
* (C) has: "The first writing has evidence of is on..." - Grammatically incorrect.
* (D) that we have: "The first writing that we have evidence of is on Mesopotamian clay tablets." This works perfectly. "That we have evidence of" is the adjective clause modifying "writing."
* Selection: (D)

3. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ drought-resistant plants which store water in fleshy tissue.
* Analysis: The sentence fragment ends with "...plants which store water in fleshy tissue." This looks like the predicate or part of a definition. We need a subject and possibly a verb to start the sentence. However, looking at the options, they all seem to be trying to form a noun phrase or a subject.
* Let's look at the structure again. Is it a definition? "[Subject] are drought-resistant plants..."
* (A) Succulents are: "Succulents are drought-resistant plants which store water in fleshy tissue." This is a complete, correct sentence.
* (B) Succulents: "Succulents drought-resistant plants..." - Missing the verb "are."
* (C) They are succulents: "They are succulents drought-resistant plants..." - This doesn't make sense syntactically.
* (D) Succulents which are: "Succulents which are drought-resistant plants..." - This creates a fragment. There is no main verb for "Succulents."
* Selection: (A)

4. Benjamin Kobelsky, whom \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ as Jack Benny, was a famous comedian in Vaudeville on radio and television.
* Analysis: The clause is "whom \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ as Jack Benny." "Whom" is the object of the verb in the clause. The subject of the clause must be "people" or "most people." The verb should be active voice because "whom" receives the action.
* (A) most people's knowledge: Not a verb.
* (B) most people knew: "whom most people knew as Jack Benny." This fits. People (subject) knew (verb) him (whom/object).
* (C) knowing most people: Incorrect meaning and grammar.
* (D) the knowledge of most people: Not a verb.
* Selection: (B)

5. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ that hunted other animals tended to have very narrow, sharp, curved claws.
* Analysis: We need a subject for the verb "tended." The clause "that hunted other animals" describes the subject.
* (A) For dinosaurs: Prepositional phrases cannot be the subject of "tended."
* (B) Dinosaurs are known: "Dinosaurs are known that hunted..." - Incorrect grammar. You would say "Dinosaurs known to hunt..." or "Dinosaurs that hunted..."
* (C) Dinosaurs: "Dinosaurs that hunted other animals tended to have..." This works perfectly. "Dinosaurs" is the subject, "that hunted other animals" is the adjective clause modifying it, and "tended" is the main verb.
* (D) like dinosaurs: Prepositional phrase, not a subject.
* Selection: (C)

6. The first eyeglasses had convex lenses for the aged who \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ farsighted.
* Analysis: The clause is "who \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ farsighted." "Who" refers to "the aged" (plural). We need a verb that links "who" to the adjective "farsighted."
* (A) had become: "who had become farsighted." This is grammatically possible, but "become" usually implies a change over time. Let's check other options.
* (B) they had become: Redundant subject "they." Incorrect.
* (C) becoming: Participle, not a finite verb. Incorrect.
* (D) it became: Wrong pronoun "it" (should be plural for "aged") and wrong tense/pronoun agreement.
* Let's re-evaluate (A). "The aged who had become farsighted." This makes sense. Eyeglasses were for older people who *had developed* farsightedness.
* Wait, is there a simpler option? Usually, these tests look for simple past or present. But (A) is the only one that is grammatically structurally sound with a proper verb phrase without extra subjects.
* Let's double-check if "were" was an option. It is not.
* Let's check (D) again. "it became" - "aged" is plural, so "it" is wrong.
* Let's check (B) again. "they" is redundant after "who."
* Let's check (C) again. "who becoming" is not a complete verb form.
* So (A) is the only valid choice.
* Selection: (A)

Final Answer:
1. (B)
2. (D)
3. (A)
4. (B)
5. (C)
6. (A)