As you learn English, you’ll come across different types of clauses that you can use to provide more information about a noun. One of these is the relative clauses, which begins with a relative pronoun (such as “who,” “whom,” “that,” or “which”) and provides more details about the noun that comes before it. For example:
- The man who is wearing a hat is my uncle.
- The book that you lent me is very interesting.
Reduced Relative Clause
However, there’s another type of relative clause that you might encounter in English, which is the reduced relative clause. This type of clause is shorter than a regular relative clause, and it doesn’t include a relative pronoun. Instead, it uses a participle (usually an “-ing” form) or an infinitive to modify the noun that comes before it. For example:
- The man wearing a hat is my uncle.
- The book to read is very interesting.
In this article, we’ll look at the rules and examples of reduced relative clauses, as well as some tips on how to use them correctly.
When to Use Reduced Relative Clauses
Reduced relative clauses are often used in English to make sentences shorter and more concise. They are also used in informal speech and writing, as well as in literature and poetry, to create a specific tone or effect.
Reduced relative clauses are typically used in the following situations:
- When the subject of the relative clause is the same as the subject of the main clause. For example:
- The man who is running is my friend. (regular relative clause)
- The man running is my friend. (reduced relative clause)
In this example, “man” is the subject of both clauses. The regular relative clause includes the relative pronoun “who” and the verb “is,” while the reduced relative clause omits the pronoun and the verb and uses the participle “running” instead.
- When the relative clause provides non-essential information about the noun. For example:
- The book that you lent me is very interesting. (regular relative clause)
- The book to read is very interesting. (reduced relative clause)
In this example, the regular relative clause provides essential information about the book (“that you lent me”), while the reduced relative clause provides non-essential information (“to read”).
- When the relative clause is short and easy to understand. For example:
- The man who lives next door is very friendly. (regular relative clause)
- The man next door is very friendly. (reduced relative clause)
In this example, the regular relative clause is not very long or complicated, but the reduced relative clause is even shorter and simpler.
How to Form Reduced Relative Clause
To form a reduced relative clause, you need to follow these steps:
- Identify the noun that the clause will modify. This noun should be the subject or object of the clause, and it should come before the clause in the sentence.
- Look for a relative pronoun (such as “who” or “which”) in the regular relative clause. If there is no relative pronoun, you can skip this step.
- Remove the relative pronoun and the verb that follows it. Keep the subject of the clause and change the verb to a participle or an infinitive.
- If the verb is a present participle (“-ing” form), add it directly after the noun. If the verb is an infinitive (“to” + base form), add “to” before the base form of the verb.
Here are some examples of regular and reduced relative clauses:
- Regular: The girl who is singing is very talented.
- Reduced: The girl singing is very talented.
In this example, the regular relative clause “who is singing” has been reduced to the participle “singing.”
- Regular: The cake that my mom baked is delicious.
- Reduced: The cake baked by my mom is delicious.
As you can see in this example, the regular relative clause “that my mom baked” has been reduced to the participle “baked by my mom.”
- Regular: The book that I want to read is on the shelf.
- Reduced: The book to read is on the shelf.
In this example, the regular relative clause “that I want to read” has been reduced to the infinitive “to read.”
Tips for Using
While reduced relative clauses can be very useful in English, there are some things to keep in mind to use them correctly:
- Make sure the meaning is clear. Reduced relative clauses can sometimes create ambiguity if they are not used correctly. For example, “The boy playing the guitar is my brother” could mean either “The boy who is playing the guitar” or “The boy who is played by the guitar” (if “playing” is interpreted as a passive verb). To avoid confusion, make sure the meaning is clear from the context.
- Use reduced relative clauses sparingly. While they can make sentences shorter and more concise, using too many of them can make your writing or speech sound choppy or informal.
- Follow grammar rules. Even though reduced relative clauses are shorter than regular relative clauses, they still need to follow basic grammar rules. For example, the participle or infinitive should agree with the subject of the clause in terms of tense and number.
In conclusion, reduced relative clauses are a useful tool in English for making sentences shorter and more concise. By following the rules and using them appropriately, you can add variety and fluidity to your writing and speech.
Example Exercises
