Defining relative clauses. Reduced clauses.
Look at the sentence. Which options can be used in the gap?
These are barren, burnt lands hidden by sandstorms ______ (which/that/-) stretch a thousand miles across the equator.
Defining relative clauses
Defining relative clauses give essential information about the thing or person we talk about. In our example the part “which stretch a thousand miles across the equator” is an important piece of information about ‘sandstorms’.
Defining relative clauses start with the following relative pronouns:
which - for things
who - for people
when - for times
where - for places
whose - for possession
You can use that instead of which and who.
You can omit the relative pronouns who, which, that if they are followed by a subject and a verb.
Ex: The assistant [that] we met was really kind.
Reduced relative clauses
Reduced clauses are shortened versions of relative clauses that define the subject of the sentence.
How to reduce clauses
Reduce to a past participle phrase
- Remove the relative pronoun.
- Remove the verb "be."
- Place the past participle phrase after the modified noun.
Example:The car, which was purchased in Seattle, was a vintage Mustang.
Reduced: The car purchased in Seattle was a vintage Mustang.
Reduce to a present participle
- Remove the relative pronoun.
- Remove the verb "be."
- Place the present participle phrase after the modified noun.
Example:The professor who is teaching mathematics will leave the university.
Reduced: The professor teaching mathematics will leave the university.
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defining relative clauses
reduced clauses
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