Punctuation Rules – English Grammar Exercises for B2
A news report covering the restoration of a historical monument (The Silverwood Manor).
Acting as a news editor, choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to fill in the blank. Pay close attention to the use of punctuation when adding background information to proper nouns (names of monuments, names of people).
1 The Silverwood Manor ______ is finally undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration.
(A) , that was erected in 1750,
(B) which was erected in 1750
(C) , which was erected in 1750,
(D) , where was erected in 1750,
2 Architect Arthur Pendelton ______ will oversee the delicate restoration process.
(A) who specializes in historical monuments
(B) , that specializes in historical monuments,
(C) , whose specializes in historical monuments,
(D) , who specializes in historical monuments,
3 The iconic clock tower ______ has been leaning dangerously for over a decade.
(A) , which stands at the center of the estate,
(B) which stands at the center of the estate
(C) , that stands at the center of the estate,
(D) , it stands at the center of the estate,
4 The city council ______ approved the funding unanimously during last night’s session.
(A) , who had debated the issue for months,
(B) which had debated the issue for months
(C) , which had debated the issue for months,
(D) , that had debated the issue for months,
5 The main courtyard ______ will be closed to the public during the construction phase.
(A) , where the annual summer festival is usually held,
(B) where the annual summer festival is usually held
(C) , which the annual summer festival is usually held,
(D) , that the annual summer festival is usually held,
6 The original building blueprints ______ were miraculously found in the basement archives.
(A) which the team discovered entirely by accident
(B) , which the team discovered entirely by accident,
(C) , that the team discovered entirely by accident,
(D) , which the team discovered them entirely by accident,
7 The manor’s stained-glass windows ______ require meticulous cleaning by specialists.
(A) some of which date back to the 16th century
(B) , some of that date back to the 16th century,
(C) , some of which date back to the 16th century,
(D) , that some of which date back to the 16th century,
8 The Ministry of Heritage ______ is providing fifty percent of the total budget.
(A) , which it is the primary sponsor of the project,
(B) which is the primary sponsor of the project
(C) , that is the primary sponsor of the project,
(D) , which is the primary sponsor of the project,
9 Local historian Dr. Aris Thorne ______ will document the entire process for the museum.
(A) , whose recent book highlighted the building’s decay,
(B) whose recent book highlighted the building’s decay
(C) , who his recent book highlighted the building’s decay,
(D) , whom recent book highlighted the building’s decay,
10 The city mayor ______ gave a passionate speech about preserving our shared heritage.
(A) , who has always championed the restoration,
(B) who has always championed the restoration
(C) , that has always championed the restoration,
(D) , which has always championed the restoration,
11 The foundation stones ______ are showing signs of severe water damage.
(A) on which the entire structure rests
(B) , on which the entire structure rests,
(C) , that the entire structure rests on them,
(D) , where the entire structure rests,
12 The antique grand staircase ______ will have its marble steps completely replaced.
(A) which generations of nobility once walked up
(B) , that generations of nobility once walked up,
(C) , which generations of nobility once walked up,
(D) , where generations of nobility once walked up,
13 The building’s copper roof ______ will be replaced with historically accurate materials.
(A) , the green patina of which is famous citywide,
(B) the green patina of which is famous citywide
(C) , which the green patina is famous citywide,
(D) , that its green patina is famous citywide,
14 The secret underground tunnel ______ will be opened for guided tours next year.
(A) about which many urban legends have been told
(B) , that many urban legends have been told about,
(C) , about which many urban legends have been told,
(D) , which many urban legends have been told,
15 The chief engineer ______ is confident that the strict deadline will be met.
(A) to whom the city entrusted this monumental task
(B) , to whom the city entrusted this monumental task,
(C) , who the city entrusted this monumental task,
(D) , that the city entrusted this monumental task to,
16 The eastern wing ______ was heavily bombed during the Second World War.
(A) , which served as a military hospital at the time,
(B) which served as a military hospital at the time
(C) , that served as a military hospital at the time,
(D) , where served as a military hospital at the time,
17 The intricate ceiling frescoes ______ will be restored by a team of experts from Italy.
(A) many of which have faded over the decades
(B) , many of them have faded over the decades,
(C) , many of which have faded over the decades,
(D) , that many have faded over the decades,
18 The grand opening ceremony ______ will feature a performance by the national orchestra.
(A) which is scheduled for the first of May
(B) , that is scheduled for the first of May,
(C) , when is scheduled for the first of May,
(D) , which is scheduled for the first of May,
19 The renovation committee ______ has promised complete transparency regarding the expenses.
(A) which comprises ten local community leaders
(B) , who comprises ten local community leaders,
(C) , which comprises ten local community leaders,
(D) , that comprises ten local community leaders,
20 The legendary Silverwood Ghost ______ has supposedly not been seen since the work began.
(A) , about whom numerous terrifying tales are told,
(B) about whom numerous terrifying tales are told
(C) , which numerous terrifying tales are told about,
(D) , that numerous terrifying tales are told about,
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) , which was erected in 1750,
- Why it’s correct: “The Silverwood Manor” is a unique proper noun. The relative clause providing the construction year is simply background info and must be enclosed in commas.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Structural error: DO NOT use “that” in a non-defining relative clause. (B) Common mistake: Missing comma. (D) Meaning trap: “where” refers to a place and cannot act as the subject of the verb “was erected”.
2 (D) , who specializes in historical monuments,
- Why it’s correct: “Arthur Pendelton” is a specific proper noun (a person). We use “, who…” to add extra background information.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Common mistake: Missing commas. (B) Structural error: “that” cannot follow a comma. (C) Structural error: “whose” indicates possession and cannot directly function as the subject for the verb “specializes”.
3 (A) , which stands at the center of the estate,
- Why it’s correct: “The iconic clock tower” refers to a specific, unique object in this context.
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Missing comma. (C) Wrong use of “that” after a comma. (D) Structural error: Adding the pronoun “it” creates a redundant subject, resulting in an incorrect comma splice.
4 (C) , which had debated the issue for months,
- Why it’s correct: The “city council” is treated as an entity/organization, so “which” is appropriate.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Meaning trap: “who” is generally used for individuals; organizations usually take “which”. (B) Missing comma. (D) Cannot use “that” after a comma.
5 (A) , where the annual summer festival is usually held,
- Why it’s correct: “where” replaces “in which” to indicate a location (the place where the festival is held).
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Missing comma. (C) Meaning trap: If using “which” for location, a preposition is required (in which). (D) Cannot use “that”.
6 (B) , which the team discovered entirely by accident,
- Why it’s correct: Adds extra information about the specific “original building blueprints”. “Which” acts as the object of the clause.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (C) Wrong use of “that”. (D) Structural error: Since “which” is already the object, adding “them” makes it ungrammatically redundant.
7 (C) , some of which date back to the 16th century,
- Why it’s correct: Quantifier structure in a relative clause: Quantifier + of + which/whom.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (B) “that” cannot be used following a preposition. (D) Severe structural error.
8 (D) , which is the primary sponsor of the project,
- Why it’s correct: The “Ministry of Heritage” is a specific, known organization.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Redundant pronoun “it” after “which”. (B) Missing comma. (C) Wrong use of “that”.
9 (A) , whose recent book highlighted the building’s decay,
- Why it’s correct: “whose” indicates possession (the book belonging to the historian).
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Missing comma. (C) Structural error: “who his” is a fundamental grammatical flaw. (D) Meaning trap: “whom” is an object pronoun, not a possessive one.
10 (A) , who has always championed the restoration,
- Why it’s correct: Provides extra background information about the city mayor (a specific person).
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Missing comma. (C) Cannot use “that”. (D) Meaning trap: “which” is not used to refer to people.
11 (B) , on which the entire structure rests,
- Why it’s correct: The structure Preposition + which/whom is very common in formal journalistic writing (to rest on something).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (C) Structural error: Redundant pronoun “them”. (D) Meaning trap: “where” does not pair properly with the verb “rests” in this structural context.
12 (C) , which generations of nobility once walked up,
- Why it’s correct: “Which” acts as the object for the preposition “up” at the end of the relative clause.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (B) Wrong use of “that”. (D) Meaning trap: “where” cannot be used with “walked up” without an appropriate prepositional structure.
13 (A) , the green patina of which is famous citywide,
- Why it’s correct: Formal possessive structure for objects: the + Noun + of which (equivalent to “whose green patina”).
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Missing comma. (C) Incorrect word order. (D) Wrong use of “that” and a redundant “its”.
14 (C) , about which many urban legends have been told,
- Why it’s correct: The preposition “about” is fronted before the relative pronoun “which” (to tell legends about something).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (B) Structural error: You cannot use “that” after a comma, nor can you place a preposition immediately before “that”. (D) Trap: Missing the required preposition “about”.
15 (B) , to whom the city entrusted this monumental task,
- Why it’s correct: The phrasal structure is entrust a task to somebody. The preposition “to” is fronted before the relative pronoun “whom” (used for people as objects).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (C) Structural error: When fronting a preposition, “whom” is strictly required; “who” is incorrect. (D) Cannot use “that” after a comma.
16 (A) , which served as a military hospital at the time,
- Why it’s correct: “The eastern wing” is a specific, clearly defined area.
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Missing comma. (C) Wrong use of “that”. (D) Trap: “where” cannot act as the subject of the verb “served”.
17 (C) , many of which have faded over the decades,
- Why it’s correct: The structure Quantifier + of + which refers to a portion of the previously mentioned plural noun (the frescoes).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (B) Comma splice error: Using “them” turns it into two independent clauses incorrectly joined by a comma. (D) Structural error.
18 (D) , which is scheduled for the first of May,
- Why it’s correct: “The grand opening ceremony” is a specific event. “Which” simply adds non-essential information.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (B) Wrong use of “that”. (C) Meaning trap: “When” indicates time and cannot act as the subject for the verb “is scheduled”.
19 (C) , which comprises ten local community leaders,
- Why it’s correct: A “committee” is an organization (treated as a thing), so “which” is correct.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Missing comma. (B) Meaning trap: Using “who” for a collective organization is incorrect in this context. (D) Wrong use of “that”.
20 (A) , about whom numerous terrifying tales are told,
- Why it’s correct: The Ghost is personified and has a proper name, so the formal preposition + whom is appropriate.
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Missing comma. (C) Meaning trap: A named ghost (treated as an entity/person) prefers “whom”. (D) Wrong use of “that”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
Non-defining Relative Clauses & Punctuation (Journalistic & Academic Writing)
To elevate the quality of your writing and secure a B2/C1 grammar score, you must remember these rules when incorporating background information:
- The Comma Rule: If the preceding noun is a Proper Noun (a building’s name, a person’s name) or a clearly defined noun (using possessive adjectives or “this/that/these/those”), the following relative clause MUST be enclosed in commas , … ,. The sentence would still be grammatically complete and meaningful even if this clause were removed.
- The “THAT” Ban: Absolutely NEVER use the relative pronoun that immediately following a comma in these structures. You are restricted to using who/whom (for people), which (for things), or whose (for possession).
- Advanced Structures: To achieve an authentic and formal journalistic style, utilize the following constructions:
- Quantifier + of + which/whom: , many of which…, , some of whom…
- Preposition + which/whom: , in which…, , about whom… (Fronting the preposition like this is considerably more formal than leaving it at the end of the clause).