REDUCED, ABRIDGED or ABBREVIATED CLAUSES

Reduced, abridged (Curme) or abbreviated (Quirk) clauses (Traditional and Structural Grammars) are simpler forms of
expression than full finite clauses. They are either non-finite or verbless embedded clauses which may be
introduced by a subordinator. The subject is usually omitted and the finite TP is replaced by a non-finite TP or by
an AGRP (verbless). They are treated as units and have the same functions as their finite-clause counterparts.
 [Although tired] he kept on working.
 Come tomorrow [if possible].
 They told me {where to e find it t}
 Sylvia mentioned an article (written by a well-known reporter).
It is important to establish a difference between ELLIPTICAL and REDUCED clauses.
Elliptical clauses have the same structure as full clauses, only that the lexical verb is suppressed or
omitted, e.g.:
She might sing, but I don’t think she will [sing]. The word sing is omitted
She is regarded more highly than he [is regarded].
In a strict sense of ellipsis, words are omitted only if they are recoverable, and if the sentence is still
grammatical after the omitted word has been recovered.
Ellipsis is most commonly an abbreviating device that reduces REDUNDANCY, i.e. to avoid repetition, for
stylistic reasons:
He might return today but I don’t think he will.
Ellipsis helps focus the attention on the new material, or on the most meaningful items:
Have you spoken to him? [I have] Not yet [spoken to him].
[Do you] Want some? (familiar language)
When the omission of an element is obligatory, the term deletion is used:
John wants to read. (from: John wants John to read > John is deleted

Reduced clauses are, in contrast, simpler forms of expression. They are very frequent both in every day
speech and in written literary language. Reduced clauses are constructions which, compared with their non-
reduced counterparts, can be said to have suffered alterations that deal with the omission of some of their
constituents. Explicit subjects and finite verb inflections are usually omitted, together with certain
‘subordinating’ items. Due to the fact that superfluous items are omitted, they are often communicatively
stronger and more effective than full clauses.
Historically, reduced clauses can be related to an elliptical kind of complex sentences quite frequently
used in the past, e.g.: (Curme) “Out of sight, out of mind” = If something is out of sight, it soon passes out of
mind. In these verbless constructions, the syntactic relations between the constituents are expressed by
their relative position in the sentence. According to Curme, reduced clauses have existed for a longer period
of time than ‘full’ clauses, therefore, the so-called reduced clauses cannot be said to be abridged versions of
‘full’ clauses: they are an independent type of clause formation.
Types of omission:
1: the overt operator, the finite inflection (AUX or copula) and the overt subject are omitted (reduced relative clauses)
2: the finite inflection and the overt subject are omitted (reduced noun clauses / adverbial clauses)
3: the element introducing the whole clause, the finite inflection and the overt subject are omitted (free adjuncts)
4: the element introducing the whole clause and the finite inflection are omitted (absolute constructions)
In Reduced Relative clauses the relative operator is omitted, as well as the subject and the finite inflection:
 Look at the girl [sitting near the fire].
 It is a night [not to stay outside].
 Finally I chose a poem [known to everybody].
 The minute has come {at which to e speak plainly t}
 We met a group of enthusiastic players {from whom to e select the winner t}
In Reduced Noun clauses the interrogative operator is kept:
 I wonder {what to e do t this evening}
 He told us [how to accomplish this].
 I can’t imagine {how to e solve this problem t}
 I convinced him of {what to e do t in that situation}
 He wasn´t sure of {how to e recover from the crisis t}
 The great difficulty was [how to cross the river].
 [Whether to go or not] will be decided today.
Reduced Adverbial clauses may retain the subordinating element:
 [If punished] they will not cooperate.
 I’ll get up early [if necessary].
 He raised his head [as if to command silence].
 Hours are long, [though seemingly short].
 [Though very young] she is an excellent professional.
 [Although feeling very tired] he watered the garden as usual.
 [After having watched the match] they went to sleep.
 She always sings [when doing her work].
 Do not believe me [as having lost hope].
In certain Reduced Adverbial clauses (i.e. Free Adjuncts) the subordinating element may be omitted:
 [Walking to the station] I met Fred.
 [Impressed by the president’s decision], Peter chose to join another group.
 [Not knowing (what to do)], I waited patiently.
REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES
 I saw a woman (crying [on the bus] (?) ) / (who was crying [on the bus])
 The room (looking down on the beach) was my favourite.
 We talked to an elderly person (sitting quietly on that bench).
 She poured the juice in a jug (bought at the flee market). / (which had been bought at the flee market)
 The little baby (abandoned by her parents) was saved by a young couple.
 Children are wonderful creatures (blessed by God).
 A problem (solved in such an easy way) is not actually a problem.
 No-one (sensible) would make that mistake. / (who is sensible)
 No-one (brave) would be afraid of such an ordinary situation.
 His father, (guilty of gross neglect, abuse and cruelty), was sent to prison.
 No man (responsible for a crime) shall get away with it.
 This is not the right time or place (to say such a thing). / (when or where one could say such a thing)
 The man (in the blue suit) is my uncle.
 The poor are suffering from starvation. / (Those who are poor)
 The handicapped are put aside by society.
 The rich in grace will go to Heaven. / (Those who are rich in grace)
 I saw a rabbit (in the park) (??)
 This company makes chairs (for unusually small children). (??)
The following reduced Relative Clauses should not be interpreted as exceptional clause predicates:
 Give me the letter {e containing her confession}.
 Look at the girl {e sitting near the window}.
 I met a woman {e wearing a blue dress and a hat}.
 He explained to me the details {e related to his next trip}.
 We photographed the passengers {e arrived from the airport}.
REDUCED NOUN CLAUSES
 We didn’t know (where to turn right). / (where we had to turn right)
 He wasn’t sure (of) (what to say). / (what he could/should say)
 Petra advised Jane on (what to wear for the party). / (what she should wear for the party)
 We wondered (where to keep those papers). / (where we should keep those papers)
 John is still wondering (what to do about his sister).
 She didn’t know (how to handle the situation). / (how she should handle the situation)
 I should have learned (how to fix this engine).
 That was different from (what said before).
 Sarah reminded me of (how to operate that gadget).
REDUCED ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
After going round endless other shops, they would eventually reappear at our shop
PP (AbrAdvCl) Unacc VP + PP PP locative compl
just before closing time and they would be extremely irritated.
Spec PP P Spec NP N aspect aux
PP Adjunct

Despite feeling horribly stiff after our first day’s walk, I persevered, and gradually our
PP Free Adjunct PP Adjunct
walks became longer and longer and I began to feel increasingly fit.
During the summer I had the unforgettable experience of working temporarily as a
PP ADJUNCT COMPLEMENT to “experience”
shop assistant in the dress department of a large store.
PP complement PP locative ADJUNCT

(When sleeping), children look like angels. / (When they are sleeping)
Jane never thought about Thomas, but while dreaming.
(While in terrible pain), she was unable to talk to us.
(While in Paris), we decided to take up a French course.
(Having finished his work), Pete returned home. / (After he had finished his work)
John loved Cynthia, who, having been left by Joseph, feeling abandoned and lonely, and
after discovering John’s secret passion, surrendered in his arms.
 (Although still angy), Fred put an end to the fight. / (Although he was still angry)
 (Though already an elderly man), he kept a great memory.
 (Though in terrible pain), she managed to talk to us.
 (Though uninterested), the audience made the effort to interpret her words.
 (Even though a bit absent minded), Jill is an excellent pupil.
 (If necessary), he’ll explain the whole incident. / (If it is necessary)
 (If encouraged), these workers can be very productive.
 (Whether true or false), that argument is not necessary.
Expressing an afterthought: I wore the dress (with a little embarrassment) in front of all the guests.
I made it into the auditorium in time (barely).
Note: FREE ADJUNCTS are usually PRESENT PARTICIPLE CLAUSES, and if we want to restore the supposedly
omitted elements, we will notice that an appropriate form of the verb TO BE cannot be added to the clause
when the verb is stative:
 Knowing that Mary didn’t love him anymore, he decided to leave her.
 *Because he was knowing that Mary didn’t love him anymore, he decided to leave her.
Curme’s types:
Abbreviated non-finite clause: If encouraged / While sleeping / Though absent-minded
Abbreviated verbless clause: If necessary / While in Paris / Though still angry
Postmodifying past participle clause: Have you ever read anything (written by Borges)?
Postmodifying present participle clause: The boy standing by the door is Peter.
?The girl owning the red bicycle should come up immediately.
Postmodifying adjectival construction: No man (responsible for a crime) shall get away with it
Postmodifying prepositional construction: They make chairs (for unusually small children).
Adjectives as NP head: The poor are suffering from starvation.
Supplementing clause: I wore the dress (with a little embarrassment) in front of all the guests.

Assorted examples:
Tell me what to say.
He wanted to know how to find these wonders in real life.
She gave advice about what to do with our peculiar complexions.
He wondered how to help her come along, how to persuade her to reach the smallest cliff.
Whether a frog or the moon, you show me where to go.
Tell me where to find the wonders in dreams, in real life.
No frog under a stoop can show me how to find the wonders in dreams, in real life.

When very little, Tom was a dreamer.

After saying that, Tom heard the school bell ringing in his head.
Once in his office, he took off his coat and shoes.
Although tired, Jimmy came to work.
Although interesting, that’s not important.
If tired like this, you won’t please her.
If interested in seducing this lady you see snap out of it.
Having crammed his little stove, he lay back in his operating chair at the bay window.
Gorged with the steam beer, the cheap tobacco and the effects of his heavy meal, he dropped off to sleep.
He was pleased with her for having looked over.
He had been quite right insisting it was worth while being there.
The girl in the purple gown came to us.
Can you see that girl in red?
He dreamed about princesses in their castles.
You ought to be courageous as a knight on the field.
The pines outside the cabin were covered in snow.
The trees overhead made a great sound.
The minute has come at which to speak plainly
It was a group of enthusiastic players from whom to select the winner
No man falling asleep under his desk sounds like fun to me.
He dreamed about blue fish playing with puzzles.
He dreamed about a whole world living in hustle.
It was one of those cross streets peculiar to western cities, situated in the heart of the residence quarter.
In there, one saw piles of unopened oysters weighted down by cubes of ice.
O’Brian‘s tale, although horrific, is told with a glassy calm found remarkable.
(?) I saw him buried under his desk.
One day, while walking to school, he saw a frog under a stoop.
“Hello”, said the frog under the stoop.
It’s me, the frog hiding in the dark.
I’ve never seen a frog able to speak.
On the table, he found a black, noseless balloon stinking of vinegar.
She found a plastic sunglasses case with coloured sequins and a green plastic starfish sewed on it.
He thought he would see things blackened and changed.
A woman seated on a tarpaulin sighted him.
Her face, turned to him now, was fragile.
She found a round basin just big enough to dab the tip of one’s finger in.
Going to sleep, he would feel the fiery smile still gripped by his face muscles.