Reduction of Relative Clauses

Reduced relative clauses can be used to make your sentences shorter. It is common to use them within
formal or academic writing.

1. Active sentences: We can use participles when reducing the sentence.

a) Present Participle "V-ing"
We stood on the bridge which connects the two halves of the city.
We stood on the bridge connecting the two halves of the city. (Present Participle)

The people that did not exercise every day lost the least weight.
The people not exercising every day lost the most weight.

2. Passive sentences:
a) Simple form: Past Participle "V3 or being V3": If the relative clause is in the passive voice and in
a simple tense, then it can be reduced by deleting the relative pronoun and the verb 'to be', leaving
the past participle.

The boy who was attacked by a dog was taken to hospital.

The boy attacked by a dog was taken to hospital. (Past Participle)
The car which is parked next to mine is very expensive.
The car parked next to mine is very expensive. (Past Participle)

b) Continuous form: If it is a negative, then you place 'not' at the beginning of the participle phrase. If
it is in the passive voice but is a continuous tense verb (present or past), then you delete the
connecting word and 'to be', leaving you with 'being + past participle'.

The building, which is being built by Kingston Developers, should be completed by May.
The building, being built by Kingston Developers, should be completed by May.

c) Perfect Form: Perfect Participle "having V3" (active-explaining something happened before the
others)

Jenna, who has lived in Florida for 20 years, has gone through several hurricanes.
Jenna, having lived in Florida for 20 years, has gone through several hurricanes.(Perfect Participle)
Having lived in Florida for 20 years, Jenna has gone through several hurricanes. (Perfect Participle)

3. Prepositional Phrases: If the relative pronoun is followed by a prepositional phrase, then this can
be reduced.
The book that is on the table is mine
The book on the table is mine
The house which is across the street is for sale
The house across the street is for sale

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4. a) Adjectives: If the relative clause has only an adjective and the verb to be within it, verb 'to be'
can be deleted:
The girl who is happy with the present is playing joyfully.
The girl who is happy with the present is playing joyfully.
The person who was responsible for the accident was put in jail.
The person who was responsible for the accident was put in jail.

Exercises:
A. Reduce the relative clauses in the following sentences.

E.g. The fire extinguisher which was refilled yesterday is on the floor.

. . . . . .The fire extinguisher refilled yesterday is on the floor……

1. People who live on the streets often need medical attention.

2. The keys that are on the table are mine.

3. The study which was conducted by the university is now in a journal.

4. The girl who is swimming in the lake is my sister.

5. Kathy, who is my supervisor, received an award from the regional manager.

6. Children who are born with congenital heart disease may have many health difficulties.

7. The man who was invited to the conference was a speaker on global warming.

8. The ideas which are presented in the essay are controversial.

9. Those who wish to travel with us must be ready to leave on short notice.

10. The billboard, which is on the edge of town, lists the population statistics.

11. Mr. Brown, who is responsible for public relations, is an employee of the company.

12. The boxes which are being carried now will be put in the dining room.

13. The rain which was pouring down like tropical rain devastated the sports facilities.

14. Knowledgeable consumers who are looking for bargains often shop at outlet stores.

15. The boy who was lost in flood was a high school student.

B. Do the exercises in the following website.

https://www.liveworksheets.com/pp1117853vv