Name _______________________
Class _______________________
Date __________
Score _________
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Who’s Afraid of Grammar?
When we talk about people, things, places or times, we often need to add
more information about them. A relative pronoun is a word that connects the
people, things, places or times to the additional information.
Some examples of relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, that, which,
when and where. The correct relative pronoun we use depends on what is
being said. Who and whom refer to people; whose refers to something
belonging to a person; that and which refer to things; when refers to a time;
and where refers to a place.
For example: Sir Gawain was a knight. He fought bravely for King Arthur.
Sir Gawain was a knight who fought bravely for King Arthur.
The story was very popular in the 14th century. It was first told
in the 14th century.
The story was very popular in the 14th century when it was first
told.
The sentences below are from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Look for the
relative pronoun in each sentence and underline it.
1. Sometimes he found an inn or monastery where he spent the night.
2. He rode through storms of cold rain that coated his armor with ice.
3. The land through which he rode became wilder every day.
4. He passed mountains where he could see dragons breathing out fiery
smoke.
5. The Green Knight stood there, looking at him with eyes that gleamed like
emeralds.
6. “I did not flinch when you raised your sword.”
© 2001 Britannica.com Inc.
Name _______________________
Class _______________________
Date __________
Score _________
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Who’s Afraid of Grammar?
Below are some statements about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Circle
the letter next to the relative pronoun that correctly completes each
statement.
1. Sir Gawain knew that the Green Chapel was far to the north of Camelot,
___________ he lived.
a. who
b. which
c. where
2. He was going to meet the Green Knight, ___________ had given him a
challenge a year earlier.
a. whose
b. who
c. when
3. Sir Gawain knew he had to keep the pledge ___________ he had given to
the Green Knight.
a. that
b. when
c. whom
4. He could see nothing but swirling snow all around him ___________ he
was riding through the howling blizzards.
a. when
b. which
c. who
5. Sir Gawain, ___________ head was bent, tried to keep completely still.
a. which
b. that
c. whose
6. Sir Bercilak, on ___________ the sorceress Morgan le Fay had put a
spell, put his hand on Sir Gawain’s shoulder.
a. where
b. whom
© 2001 Britannica.com Inc.
c. which