Reduced Relative Clause
Reduced relative clauses are participle clauses which follow a noun. They are like relative clauses, but with the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb (if there is one) left out.
Because they modify nouns, (reduced) relative clauses are occasionally referred to as adjective clauses.
Reduced relative clauses are used most often instead of defining relative clauses, which are what we'll be mainly looking at.
The form of reduction changes according to the aspect of tenses and modality.
Present Simple Tense
IIf the main clause is Present Simple/Present Continuous/Present Modals and the relative clause is in Present Continuous Tense, the relative pronoun and auxilary verb are omitted and the verb is left in the present participle form (V+ing).
Anybody who touches that wire will get an electric shock.
Anybody who touches that wire will get an electric shock.
Anybody touching that wire will get an electric shock.
The shop which sells handmade pottery will closed down.
The shop which sells handmade pottery will closed down.
The shop selling handmade pottery will closed down.
The lady who lives next door throws numerous parties.
The lady who lives next door throws numerous parties.
The lady living next door throws numerous parties.
Present Continuous / Progressive Tense
If the main clause is Present Simple/Present Continuous/Present Modals and the relative clause is in Present Continuous Tense, the relative pronoun and auxilary verb are omitted and the verb is left in the present participle form (V+ing).
The girl who is sittting next to Peter is my neighbor’s daughter.
The girl who is sitting next to Peter is my neighbor’s daughter.
The girl sitting next to Peter is my neighbor’s daughter.
Can you see the man who is dancing with your sister?
Can you see the man who is dancing with your sister?
Can you see the man dancing with your sister?
Past Simple Tense
If the main clause is Past Simple/Past Continuous/Past Modals and the relative clause is in Past Simple Tense, the relative pronoun is omitted and the verb is converted into Present Participle form (V+ing).
Dancers who travelled by plane had to pay their own fees in the 1980s.
Dancers who travelled by plane had to pay their own fees in the 1980s.
Dancers travelling by plane had to pay their own fees in the 1980s.
Doctors who attended a conference on malaria urged governments to act.
Doctors who attended a conference on malaria urged governments to act.
Doctors attending a conference on malaria urged governments to act.
Past Continuous / Progressive Tense
If the main clause is Past Simple/Past Continuous/Past Modals and the relative clause is in Past Continuous Tense, the relative pronoun and auxilary verb are omitted and the verb is left in the present participle form (V+ing).
Most of those who were trying to get free tickets were unsuccessful.
Most of those who were trying to get free tickets were unsuccessful.
Most of those trying to get free tickets were unsuccessful.
People who were waiting for the bus got wet in the rain.
People who were waiting for the bus got wet in the rain.
People waiting for the bus got wet in the rain.
Present Perfect and past perfect tenses
If you wish to emphasise the prior completion of the activity in the participle phrase, 'have' is changed to 'having', leaving you with 'having + past participle'.
The athlete who has won the most races will be chosen as the Victor Ludorum.
The athlete who has won the most races will be chosen as the Victor Ludorum.
The athlete having won the most races will be chosen as the Victor Ludorum.
So in the above example, it emphasised that the winning the most races took place before chosen as the Victor Ludorum.The athlete having won the most races will be chosen as the Victor Ludorum.
The student who had read the textbook thoroughly answered all the questions correctly.
The student having read the textbook thoroughly answered all the questions correctly.
Phil, who had heard the crash, rushed down the road to see if help was needed.
Phil, who had heard the crash, rushed down the road to see if help was needed.
Phil, who had heard the crash, rushed down the road to see if help was needed.
Phil, having heard the crash, rushed down the road to see if help was needed.
Simple Present/Simple Past Passive
If the relative clause is in Past/Present Simple Passive form and there is tense sequence, relative pronoun and auxilary verb are omitted and the verb remains in past participle form(V3) .
Present:
Many products which are bought online are much cheaper than in the shops.
Many products which are bought online are much cheaper than in the shops.
Many products bought online are much cheaper than in the shops.
The ideas which are presented in that book are challenging.
The ideas which are presented in that book are challenging.
The ideas presented in that book are challenging.
Past:
The passengers who were injured in the crash were taken to hospital.
The passengers who were injured in the crash were taken to hospital.
The passengers injured in the crash were taken to hospital.
The driver who were stopped by the police was three times over the legal limit.
The driver who were stopped by the police was three times over the legal limit.
The driver stopped by the police was three times over the legal limit.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'.
You then have a continuous passive participle phrase.
Measures must be taken to stop nuclear waste which are being left at sea.
Measures must be taken to stop nuclear waste which are being left at sea.
Measures must be taken to stop nuclear waste which are being left at sea.
Measures must be taken to stop nuclear waste being left at sea.
The building, which is being constructed by EMTA, will be completed by June.
Present Perfect and Past Perfect Tenses Passive
If the clause in the passive perfect tense (present or past), then 'have' or 'had' is replaced by 'having'. So we end up with 'having + been + V3' to make the reduced relative clause.
This is a perfect passive particle phrase:
The minister who had been accused of bribery made a passionate speech to prove his innocence.
The ministerwho had been accused of bribery made a passionate speech to prove his innocence.
The minister having been accused of bribery made a passionate speech to prove his innocence.
The old boat, which had been restored in the family's barn, was taken to Swansea for relaunching.
The building, which is being constructed by EMTA, will be completed by June
The building, being constructed by EMTA , wiil be completed by June.
The building, being constructed by EMTA , wiil be completed by June.
The man which was being questioned by the detectives did not accept the accusations.
The man which was being questioned by the detectives did not accept the accusations.
The man being questioned by the detectives did not accept the accusations.
If the clause in the passive perfect tense (present or past), then 'have' or 'had' is replaced by 'having'. So we end up with 'having + been + V3' to make the reduced relative clause.
This is a perfect passive particle phrase:
The same jeans, which has been worn for so long, has faded their color.
The same jeans, which has been worn for so long, has faded their color.
The same jeans, having been worn for so long, has faded their color.
The driver who has been caught in a snowstorm don’t know what to do.
The driver who has been caught in a snowstorm don’t know what to do.
The driver having been caught in a snowstorm don’t know what to do.
The minister
The minister having been accused of bribery made a passionate speech to prove his innocence.
The old boat, which had been restored in the family's barn, was taken to Swansea for relaunching.
The old boat, which had been restored in the family's barn, was taken to Swansea for relaunching.
The old boat, having been restored in the family's barn, was taken to Swansea for relaunching.
Again, if the non-defining participle phrase refers to the subject of the independent clause, the phrase may be placed either immediately before or after the subject of that independent clause:
Crete, which is the largest island in Greece, is very popular with tourists.
The man angry is my father
The man a doctor is my father.
The man car broke down went to the station.
Steffany, who had written the play herself, was trilled when she watched the children perform it so well.
Steffany, having written the play herself, was trilled when she watched the children perform it so well.
Having written the play herself, Steffany was trilled when she watched the children perform it so well.
My uncle, who has lived in Spain for twenty years, says he never thinks of returning to England
My uncle, having lived in Spain for twenty years, says he never thinks of returning to England
Having lived in Spain for twenty years, my uncle says he never thinks of returning to England
Reduced Forms of Modals
If the relative clause is in Modals and there is tense sequence, relative pronoun and the modal are omitted and the verb is written in ‘to infinitive’ form.
Peter is the person who might have the necessary items.
Peter is the person who might have the necessary items.
Peter is the person to have the necessary items.
He has a lot of responsibilities which he must fulfill.
He has a lot of responsibilities which he must fulfill.
He has a lot of responsibilities to fulfill.
They were the people who could steal without hesitation.
They were the people who could steal without hesitation.
They were the people to steal without hesitation.
To be+prepositional phrase
If the relative clause consists of forms of linking verb ‘be’ followed by a preposition and there is tense sequence, the relative pronoun and ‘be’ are omitted.
The man who was in the car looked suspicious to me.
The man who was in the car looked suspicious to me.
The man in the car looked suspicious to me.
Crete, which is the largest island in Greece, is very popular with tourists.
Crete, the largest island in Greece, is very popular with tourists.
The girl who is with the flowers is crying over there.
The girl who is with the flowers is crying over there.
The girl with the flowers is crying over there.
Pronouns and to be are still omitted in passive sentences. However, using ‘having been V3’ is not mandatory.
The method which was not used in Turkey last year will be utilized next year.
The method not used in Turkey last year will be utilized next year.
If we want to emphasise prior completed action, we can use ‘having been V3’.
The method not having been used in Turkey last year will be utilized next year.
Have
When the verb “have” meaning possession, we can omit relative pronoun and “have” and use with (+) or without (-).
Students who have enough math and English skills will be admitted.
Students who have enough math and English skills will be admitted.
Students with enough math and English skills will be admitted.
People who don’t have their ID cards can not get in.
People who don’t have their ID cards can not get in.
People without their ID cards can not get in.
We can use infinitive “to” in the cases below.
1. The only...to
2. Superlative...to
3. The first, last, second, next...to
John is the only person who understands me.
John is the only person who understands me.
John is the only person to understand me.
Tom is the most handsome boy who came to this school.
Tom is the most handsome boy who came to this school.
Tom is the most handsome boy to come to this school.
Jack is the first student who has handed in the exam.
Jack is the first student who has handed in the exam.
Jack is the first person to have handed in the exam.
You may NOT delete the relative pronoun and the be verb when :
1. they are followed by an adjective:
The man who is angry is my father
However, you may switch the positions of the adjective and noun.
The angry man is my father. (okay)
2. they are followed by a noun:
The man who is a doctor is my father.
Never delete the relative pronoun whose:
The man whose car broke down went to the station.
Reduction is not possible with time difference between main and relative clauses.
Did you see the boy who had lost a cat?
I want to talk to the person who broke that cup.
