Which sentence contains a NON-defining relative clause?

My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.

The book that I bought is missing.

The man who called you is waiting.

The boy who broke the glass ran away.

Identify the noun clause and its function: 'I am sure that he will win.'

'that he will win' — complement of 'sure'

'he will win' — relative clause

Identify the error: 'My father who is a teacher retires next year.'

commas are needed around the clause

Combine using a relative clause: 'I met a girl. She sings beautifully.'

I met a girl who sings beautifully.

I met a girl which sings beautifully.

I met a girl whom sings beautifully.

I met a girl whose sings beautifully.

Identify the noun clause and its function: 'That she refused the offer puzzles me.'

'That she refused the offer' — subject of 'puzzles'

'she refused the offer' — relative clause

'That she refused' — complement of 'puzzles'

'puzzles me' — noun clause as object

Choose the sentence in which 'that' CANNOT replace the relative pronoun.

My uncle, who lives in Kochi, is visiting us.

The film which we saw was long.

The house which stands there is old.

Explain the difference: 'The students, who had cheated, were expelled.' versus without commas.

With commas all the students had cheated; without commas only those who cheated were expelled.

There is no difference in meaning at all.

With commas only some students cheated; without commas all did.

The commas only affect pronunciation, not meaning.

Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative) — Class 9 MCQs with Answers

Class 9 CBSE English · Chapter 26

60 practice questions · 20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard · Updated 19 Sep 2026

Practise the most important Class 9 CBSE English questions from Chapter 26, "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 60 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE Board exams get right.

To score well in "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)", focus on comprehension, grammar and writing skills. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.

Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative), then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 9 English mastery score. 12 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.

Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative) — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 9 English)

12 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation.

Q1Easy
Identify the noun clause: 'I know that he is honest.'
A.that he is honest✓ Correct
B.I know
C.he is
D.is honest
Answer: A. that he is honest
Explanation: The clause acts as the object of 'know', which makes it a noun clause.
Q2Easy
Identify the relative clause: 'The boy who won the race is my cousin.'
A.is my cousin
B.my cousin
C.who won the race✓ Correct
D.The boy
Answer: C. who won the race
Explanation: The clause describes 'boy' and begins with a relative pronoun.
Q3Easy
Which sentence contains a NON-defining relative clause?
A.The book that I bought is missing.
B.The man who called you is waiting.
C.My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.✓ Correct
D.The boy who broke the glass ran away.
Answer: C. My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.
Explanation: Commas mark a non-defining clause, which adds extra rather than identifying information.
Q4Easy
Fill in the blank: '___ he said surprised everyone in the hall.'
A.Which
B.Whom
C.What✓ Correct
D.That
Answer: C. What
Explanation: 'What he said' is a noun clause acting as the subject.
Q5Easy
Fill in the blank: 'This is the house ___ my grandfather built.'
A.where
B.that✓ Correct
C.who
D.whose
Answer: B. that
Explanation: 'That' refers to a thing and acts as the object of 'built'.
Q6Medium
Identify the noun clause and its function: 'I am sure that he will win.'
A.'he will win' — relative clause
B.'that he' — object of 'am'
C.'that he will win' — complement of 'sure'✓ Correct
D.'I am sure' — subject
Answer: C. 'that he will win' — complement of 'sure'
Explanation: The clause completes the adjective 'sure'.
Q7Medium
Identify the error: 'The house which roof is red belongs to my aunt.'
A.aunt should be an aunt
B.which should be whose✓ Correct
C.roof should be the roof
D.belongs should be belong
Answer: B. which should be whose
Explanation: Possession inside a relative clause requires 'whose', even for a thing.
Q8Medium
Identify the error: 'My father who is a teacher retires next year.'
A.who should be whom
B.is should be was
C.retires should be retire
D.commas are needed around the clause✓ Correct
Answer: D. commas are needed around the clause
Explanation: A person has one father, so the clause is non-defining and needs commas.
Q9Medium
Combine using a relative clause: 'I met a girl. She sings beautifully.'
A.I met a girl who sings beautifully.✓ Correct
B.I met a girl which sings beautifully.
C.I met a girl whom sings beautifully.
D.I met a girl whose sings beautifully.
Answer: A. I met a girl who sings beautifully.
Explanation: 'Who' replaces the subject pronoun of the second sentence.
Q10Hard
Identify the noun clause and its function: 'That she refused the offer puzzles me.'
A.'she refused the offer' — relative clause
B.'That she refused' — complement of 'puzzles'
C.'That she refused the offer' — subject of 'puzzles'✓ Correct
D.'puzzles me' — noun clause as object
Answer: C. 'That she refused the offer' — subject of 'puzzles'
Explanation: The clause occupies the subject position before the main verb.
Q11Hard
Choose the sentence in which 'that' CANNOT replace the relative pronoun.
A.The film which we saw was long.
B.My uncle, who lives in Kochi, is visiting us.✓ Correct
C.The pen which I lost was new.
D.The house which stands there is old.
Answer: B. My uncle, who lives in Kochi, is visiting us.
Explanation: 'That' can never introduce a non-defining clause.
Q12Hard
Explain the difference: 'The students, who had cheated, were expelled.' versus without commas.
A.With commas all the students had cheated; without commas only those who cheated were expelled.✓ Correct
B.There is no difference in meaning at all.
C.With commas only some students cheated; without commas all did.
D.The commas only affect pronunciation, not meaning.
Answer: A. With commas all the students had cheated; without commas only those who cheated were expelled.
Explanation: A non-defining clause describes the whole group, while a defining clause narrows it.

Key concepts: Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative) (Class 9 English)

What a noun clause does: It fills a noun's slot in the sentence. As object: 'I know THAT HE IS HONEST'; as subject: 'WHAT HE SAID surprised everyone'; as complement: 'My belief is THAT HARD WORK ALWAYS PAYS.'
Words that introduce noun clauses: that, what, where, why, whether, how — 'I do not know WHERE SHE LIVES'; 'He asked WHETHER THE TRAIN WAS LATE.'
Noun clause as subject: It stands before the main verb, where a subject would: 'THAT HE IS INNOCENT is clear to everyone.'
What a relative clause does: It describes the noun immediately before it: 'The boy WHO WON THE RACE is my cousin.'
Choosing the relative pronoun: 'Who' for a person as subject; 'whose' for possession; 'which' for a thing; 'that' for either: 'The girl WHOSE bag was stolen…'; 'The book WHICH is lying on the table…'
Relative adverbs: 'Where' for place and 'when' for time: 'That is the village WHERE I spent my childhood'; 'I still remember the day WHEN we first met.'
Defining relative clause: It identifies WHICH one is meant and takes NO commas: 'The pen THAT WRITES SMOOTHLY is mine.' Remove it and you no longer know which pen.
Non-defining relative clause: It adds extra information about something already identified, and is enclosed in COMMAS: 'My brother, WHO LIVES IN PUNE, is a doctor.'
Why the commas change meaning: 'The passengers, who were injured, were taken to hospital' means ALL were injured. 'The passengers who were injured were taken to hospital' means only the injured ones were.
'That' cannot be non-defining: A non-defining clause must use 'which' or 'who', never 'that': 'Mount Everest, WHICH is the highest peak, attracts climbers.'
Unique nouns need commas: Something a person has only one of takes a non-defining clause: 'My father, who is a teacher, retires next year' — commas required.
Combining sentences: Replace the repeated noun with a relative pronoun: 'I met a girl. She sings beautifully' becomes 'I met a girl WHO sings beautifully.' For a noun clause, make the second sentence the object: 'Everyone believes THAT he is guilty.'

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Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative) — FAQs

What are the key concepts in Class 9 English Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)?+

A noun clause does the job of a noun — subject, object or complement. A relative clause describes a noun. This chapter asks you to identify each, choose the right relative pronoun, tell defining from non-defining clauses by their commas, and combine two sentences into one. Key ideas include What a noun clause does, Words that introduce noun clauses, Noun clause as subject, What a relative clause does, Choosing the relative pronoun, Relative adverbs.

What does Class 9 English Chapter 26 (Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)) cover on XamBaaz?+

It has 60 NCERT-based MCQs on "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)": 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Together they make 6 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.

Are these "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)" questions free to practise?+

Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 9 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 10 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.

How should I revise "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)" for the exam?+

Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 6 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.

Are these "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)" MCQs available with answers?+

Yes. 12 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.

Is there negative marking in the "Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)" quizzes?+

Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.

What are the important questions from Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative) (Class 9 English)?+

The questions that matter most test What a noun clause does, Words that introduce noun clauses, Noun clause as subject, What a relative clause does, Choosing the relative pronoun, Relative adverbs. This page shows 12 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 60 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.

Is there an online quiz for Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative)?+

Yes — Class 9 English Grammar: Clauses (Noun & Relative) has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.

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