Taken from pp. 144-46 of Rodby and Winterowd, The Uses of Grammar. There are three completed example items on p. 145.
Answer the questions in order. For each pair of questions, the first asks you to identify the indefinite relative pronoun(s) in the sentence, and the second asks you how the indefinite relative pronoun functions inside the noun clause. Notice that in this exercise you are not being asked to tell how the noun clause functions in the sentence.
The fill-in-blanks questions will become multiple-choice if you don't get the answer on the first try.
Be sure to read the feedback carefully.
1. The police know who kidnapped Jane. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
police
know
who
Jane
1. The police know who kidnapped Jane. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
verb
direct object
indirect object
2. Do you know whom they arrested? The indefinite relative in this sentence is
you
know
whom
they
2. Do you know whom they arrested? The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
indirect object
subjective complement
3. Father told whoever would listen the story. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
Father
whoever
listen
story
3. Father told whoever would listen the story. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
indirect object
subjective complement
4. Experts understand what castor oil is. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
Experts
understand
what
oil
4. Experts understand what castor oil is. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
indirect object
subjective complement
5. Whatver you think about Marvin will probably be wrong. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
Whatever
you
Marvin
will
5. Whatver you think about Marvin will probably be wrong. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
object of a preposition
appositive
6. There were several problems. Does anyone know which created all the commotion? The indefinite relative in this sentence is
There
problems
anyone
which
6. There were several problems. Does anyone know which created all the commotion? The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
objective complement
vocative
7. Jacquie fretted over what she would wear to the reception. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
Jacquie
over
what
wear
7. Jacquie fretted over what she would wear to the reception. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
object of a preposition
appositive
8. Fernando couldn't remember whom he had invited. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
Fernando
remember
whom
he
8. Fernando couldn't remember whom he had invited. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
indirect object
subjective complement
9. The problem of who should take the lead was solved by the toss of a coin. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
problem
who
lead
toss
9. The problem of who should take the lead was solved by the toss of a coin. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
subjective complement
object of a preposition
10. Did you see to whom it was addressed? The indefinite relative in this sentence is
you
whom
it
was
10. Did you see to whom it was addressed? The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
direct object
object of a preposition
objective complement
11. A husband is what's left of the lover once the nerve has been extracted. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
husband
what
lover
nerve
11. A husband is what's left of the lover once the nerve has been extracted. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
subject
subjective complement
direct object
vocative
12. I and my public understand each other very well; it does not hear what I say, and I don't say what it wants to hear. Select all the indefinite relatives. When you check your answer, you will see how many of the five answers are correct, and if you have incorrect answers, you will see feedback for the first one.
12. I and my public understand each other very well; it does not hear what I say, and I don't say what it wants to hear. The indefinite relatives function as the ____ of the noun clauses.
subjects
direct objects
subject and direct object
objects of prepositions
13. What people call insincerity is simply a method by which we can multiply our personalities. The indefinite relative in this sentence is
What
insincerity
which
our
13. What people call insincerity is simply a method by which we can multiply our personalities. The indefinite relative functions as the ____ of the noun clause.
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