ADVANCED GRAMMAR, 2022
Reduced Adjective Clauses
We reduce sentences when you have the same subject in the main clause and the
adjective clause. Adjective clauses contain relative pronouns like who, which, or that. The
adjective clause becomes an adjective phrase, which does not have a subject. An adjective
phrase does not have a subject and a verb. Instead, it has a present participle (base verb +
ing) for the active voice or a past participle for the passive voice.
a) The girl who is standing by the table is my sister.
b) The girl standing by the table is my sister.
a) The watch that was found in the lobby belongs to Lilly.
b) The watch found in the lobby belongs to Lilly.
a) People who live in large cities have many resources.
b) People living in large cities have many resources.
a) Lee Davis, who is a business teacher, wrote this book.
b) Lee Davis, a business teacher, wrote this book.
Remember that only sentences with a verb immediately after the relative pronoun can
be reduced. If there is a subject after the relative pronoun, the clause cannot be
reduced.
The man who is smoking (verb) by the door is my professor. (can be reduced)
The man whom I (subject) was talking to is my professor. (cannot be reduced)
How to Reduce an Adjective Clause
If you want to reduce an adjective clause, make sure that the same subject is present in
both clauses, and then follow these steps:
1. Omit the relative pronoun (who, that, which) of the adjective clause.
2. Omit the be form of the verb if there is one.
3. Change the verb to its present participle form (–ing) for the active voice, or leave it
as the past participle for the passive voice. Sometimes after deleting the relative
pronoun and be, there is no verb.
