Shorten Your Sentences: Reduced Relative Clauses
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Reduced relative clauses allow you to remove the relative pronoun and 'be' verb to create concise, professional-sounding sentences.
- Active: Remove 'who/which/that' + 'be' and use the -ing form. Example: 'The man (who is) sitting there.'
- Passive: Remove 'who/which/that' + 'be' and use the past participle. Example: 'The car (which was) stolen yesterday.'
- Prepositional: Remove 'who/which/that' + 'be' before a preposition. Example: 'The book (that is) on the table.'
Overview
You can use fewer words. This makes your English better and faster.
English likes short sentences. You can remove small words to save time.
Do not say 'the report that was sent'. Say 'the report sent'.
Use -ing for things doing action. Use -ed for things receiving action.
Learn this to speak and write well.
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
The engineers who are designing the bridge are skilled. | The engineers designing the bridge are skilled. | The engineers are actively designing. |
Any student who was making noise was asked to leave. | Any student making noise was asked to leave. | The student was the agent of making noise. |
The theories that were discussed in class are complex. | The theories discussed in class are complex. | The theories received the action of being discussed. |
The building which was built in 1920 is a landmark. | The building built in 1920 is a landmark. | The building received the action of being built. |
When To Use It
- To Increase Information Density: In academic and professional writing, you need to convey complex information clearly. Reduced clauses allow you to pack descriptive details right next to the noun they modify without creating long, rambling sentences. Compare
The data, which was collected from the survey, shows a clear trendtoThe data collected from the survey shows a clear trend.The second sentence is more direct and authoritative.
- To Improve Sentence Flow: A series of full relative clauses can make your writing feel clunky and repetitive. Reductions create a smoother, more elegant flow by varying your sentence structure. Consider this sentence:
The manager, who is responsible for the project that is launching next week, called a meeting.It's grammatically correct but awkward. A revised version is much better:The manager responsible for the project launching next week called a meeting.
- To Sound More Natural in Speech: While powerful in formal writing, reduced clauses are also incredibly common in everyday conversation. Native speakers use them constantly for efficiency. You're far more likely to hear,
Who's that guy talking to Sarah?than the fullWho's that guy who is talking to Sarah?Using them will make your spoken English sound more natural and less like a textbook.
- For Emphasis: Placing the modifying phrase directly after the noun creates a tighter bond between them. The description feels more like an inherent quality of the noun. In
The skills required for this job are extensive,the focus is immediately on the direct link betweenskillsandrequired, making the statement more impactful.
Common Mistakes
- Error:
The topic interesting me most is linguistics. - Analysis: The topic isn't feeling interest; it is causing interest. However, the speaker is the one experiencing the interest. The intended meaning is passive from the speaker's perspective. The correct full clause is
The topic that interests me...which cannot be reduced this way. A better phrasing is:I am most interested in the topic of linguistics.Or, to describe the topic:The most interesting topic for me is linguistics. - Error:
Please read the email sending to all staff yesterday. - Analysis: The email did not perform the action of sending. It was the object of the action. It needs a passive form.
- Correction:
Please read the email sent to all staff yesterday.
The person I saw was my teacher.The person seeing was my teacher.- Analysis: This is wrong because
Iis the subject ofsaw, notthe person. The reduced version incorrectly implies the person was doing the seeing. The original sentence is already concise; no reduction is needed. - Error:
The system that works best is the simplest one.→The system working best is the simplest one. - Analysis: While this is sometimes acceptable, especially in technical or formal writing, it can sound unnatural. At the B2 level, it's safer to stick to reducing clauses that contain a
beverb.
- Error:
The book writed by her is a bestseller. - Correction:
The book written by her is a bestseller. - Error:
The presentation gived by the CEO was inspiring. - Correction:
The presentation given by the CEO was inspiring.
Real Conversations
Reduced relative clauses are everywhere in modern English, from professional emails to casual text messages. They are a sign of fluent, efficient communication.
1. At the Office (Email/Slack)
Notice how they provide key information without extra words.
- Attached are the minutes from the meeting held on Monday. (Instead of ...which was held...)
- I'm following up on the issue raised by the client. (Instead of ...that was raised...)
- All employees wishing to join the training must register by Friday. (Instead of ...who wish...)
2. Casual Conversation
In speech, they help describe people and things quickly.
- You know that little café hidden behind the library? They have the best coffee.
- I was talking to the woman living upstairs, and she said she's moving out.
- Is this the phone found in the conference room?
3. News Headlines and Social Media
These contexts demand maximum information in minimum space, making reduced clauses essential.
- News Headline: New evidence uncovered by investigators points to a different suspect.
- Instagram Caption: Enjoying this amazing pasta dish made with fresh, local ingredients.
- Tweet: Thinking about all the people affected by the recent floods. #CommunitySupport
Quick FAQ
- Q: What is the main purpose of a reduced relative clause?
- A: To make a sentence more concise and fluent by removing a subject relative pronoun (
who,which,that) and abeverb. It embeds information more efficiently.
- Q: When can I reduce a relative clause?
- A: You can reduce it when the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause and is followed by a
beverb (and a participle or phrase). You cannot reduce it if the pronoun is the object.
- Q: How do I choose between the
-ingand-edforms? - A: Use the
-ingform (present participle) when the noun is performing the action (active). Use the-ed/irregular form (past participle) when the noun is receiving the action (passive).
- Q: Does reducing the clause change the sentence's meaning?
- A: No, the core meaning remains the same. The change is purely structural and stylistic, leading to a more compact and professional-sounding sentence.
- Q: Are these clauses only for formal writing?
- A: Not at all. While essential in formal and academic writing, they are used constantly in everyday speech, professional communication, and social media to make descriptions quicker and more natural.
- Q: What is the most common error to avoid?
- A: Confusing the active (
-ing) and passive (-ed) participles. Always double-check if the noun is the 'doer' or the 'receiver' of the action. This is the key to using them correctly.
How to Reduce Different Verb Types
| Original Verb Type | Full Relative Clause | Reduced Relative Clause | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Continuous
|
The man who is working
|
The man working
|
Drop 'who is'
|
|
Past Continuous
|
The girl who was singing
|
The girl singing
|
Drop 'who was'
|
|
Simple Present
|
The path that leads home
|
The path leading home
|
Change verb to -ing
|
|
Simple Past
|
The person who saw it
|
The person seeing it
|
Change verb to -ing
|
|
Passive Voice
|
The book which was written
|
The book written
|
Drop 'which was'
|
|
Prepositional
|
The cat that is on the mat
|
The cat on the mat
|
Drop 'that is'
|
Meanings
A reduced relative clause is a relative clause that is not marked by an explicit relative pronoun (like who, which, or that) or a finite verb. It functions as an adjective to modify a noun, making the sentence more compact.
Active Voice Reduction
Used when the noun is performing the action. The relative pronoun and 'be' verb are removed, leaving the present participle (-ing).
“People living in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.”
“The woman leading the parade is my aunt.”
Passive Voice Reduction
Used when the noun is receiving the action. The relative pronoun and 'be' verb are removed, leaving the past participle (-ed/irregular).
“The house built in 1920 is being renovated.”
“Items purchased on sale cannot be returned.”
Prepositional Phrase Reduction
Used when the relative clause contains a prepositional phrase. Only the pronoun and 'be' verb are deleted.
“The keys on the counter are mine.”
“The man in the suit is the CEO.”
Adjective Phrase Reduction
Used when the relative clause consists of an adjective or adjective phrase. Usually occurs with adjectives that follow the noun.
“The person responsible for the mess should clean it.”
“We need a room large enough for fifty people.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Active (Present)
|
Noun + [Verb-ing]
|
The students studying hard will pass.
|
|
Active (Past)
|
Noun + [Verb-ing]
|
The man driving the car was my uncle.
|
|
Passive (General)
|
Noun + [Past Participle]
|
The car repaired yesterday is running well.
|
|
Prepositional
|
Noun + [Prepositional Phrase]
|
The coffee in my cup is hot.
|
|
Adjective Phrase
|
Noun + [Adjective + Phrase]
|
We need a box bigger than this one.
|
|
Negative Active
|
Noun + [Not + Verb-ing]
|
People not attending the meeting must email me.
|
|
Negative Passive
|
Noun + [Not + Past Participle]
|
The rules not mentioned here still apply.
|
Formality Spectrum
The gentleman wearing the azure shirt is my superior. (Workplace)
The man wearing the blue shirt is my boss. (Workplace)
The guy in the blue shirt is my boss. (Workplace)
The dude in the blue is the big man. (Workplace)
The Reduction Process
Active
- Present Participle -ing form
Passive
- Past Participle -ed/V3 form
Location
- Prepositional in, on, at, etc.
Full vs. Reduced
Can I Reduce This?
Is the relative pronoun the subject?
Is there a 'be' verb?
Common Participles
Active (-ing)
- • Leading
- • Containing
- • Involving
Passive (-ed)
- • Based
- • Located
- • Known
Examples by Level
The girl in the park is my friend.
The man with the dog is tall.
Look at the cat on the wall.
The coffee on the table is cold.
The people waiting for the bus are cold.
I live in a house built in 1990.
The boy playing football is my brother.
Do you like the cake made by my mom?
The car parked outside belongs to the boss.
Anyone wanting to join the club should sign here.
The letter sent yesterday was very important.
I saw a man running down the street.
The methodology used in this study is innovative.
Candidates applying for the job must speak English.
The issues discussed at the meeting were complex.
The bridge, damaged by the storm, is now closed.
The theory, first proposed in 1920, is still relevant.
The individual responsible for the breach has been identified.
None of the participants, having been warned, chose to leave.
The artifacts, discovered deep underground, are priceless.
The silence, broken only by the ticking clock, was eerie.
The legislation, as currently drafted, poses significant risks.
The suspect, seen fleeing the scene, remains at large.
The city, once thriving, is now a shadow of its former self.
Easily Confused
Both use the -ing form, but a gerund is a noun, while a reduced clause is an adjective.
In regular verbs, the -ed form looks the same for both.
Learners think dropping 'that' in 'The book (that) I read' is the same as reduction.
Common Mistakes
The boy who in the garden.
The boy in the garden.
The car is red parked here.
The red car parked here is mine.
The man with dog.
The man with the dog.
The girl is sitting there is my sister.
The girl sitting there is my sister.
The cake making by my mom.
The cake made by my mom.
The people who waiting.
The people waiting.
I saw a movie was interesting.
I saw an interesting movie.
The man stolen the car was caught.
The man who stole the car was caught.
The book written I read it.
The book written by him was good.
The students not study failed.
The students not studying failed.
The results, having obtained, were analyzed.
The results, having been obtained, were analyzed.
Sentence Patterns
The person ___ (verb-ing) is my ___.
I found a ___ ___ (verb-ed) in the ___.
Anyone ___ (verb-ing) to ___ must ___.
The ___, ___ (verb-ed) by ___, was ___.
Real World Usage
I am a professional dedicated to achieving results.
Thousands displaced by floods.
See the girl dancing?
The evidence presented in Chapter 2...
Pasta served with a creamy sauce.
Follow the signs pointing toward the exit.
The 'Be' Test
Watch the Commas
Stative Verbs are OK
Sounding Professional
Smart Tips
Try deleting them! 90% of the time, the sentence will sound better and more professional.
Use a prepositional phrase reduction instead of a full clause.
These are perfect for -ing reductions in technical writing.
Just keep the V3 (past participle) and lose the rest.
Pronunciation
Reduced Stress
In reduced clauses, the participle (-ing or -ed) usually receives less stress than the noun it modifies.
Linking
The final consonant of the noun often links to the vowel of the participle.
Non-restrictive pause
The car, [pause] damaged in the crash, [pause] was totaled.
The pauses (commas) indicate the information is extra, not essential for identification.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Drop the 'Whiz' (Who/Which/That + Is/Was) to make your sentence a whiz!
Visual Association
Imagine a pair of scissors cutting out the words 'who is' from a sentence strip, making the two remaining ends snap together perfectly.
Rhyme
If the noun is doing the act, use -ing to keep it compact. If the noun is being served, the -ed form is what's deserved.
Story
A busy editor named 'Red' (for Reduction) hates long sentences. Every time he sees 'who is' or 'which was', he deletes them with his red pen to make the newspaper fit on one page.
Word Web
Challenge
Look at the last three emails you sent. Find one relative clause and reduce it. Does it sound better?
Cultural Notes
In Western academic culture, using reduced relative clauses is seen as a sign of high-level literacy and professional 'distance'.
Newspaper headlines in English-speaking countries almost always use reduced forms to save space and create a sense of urgency.
Legal documents use reduced clauses to be extremely precise about which 'party' or 'item' is being discussed without repeating 'which is' hundreds of times.
The term 'Whiz-deletion' was coined by generative grammarians in the 1970s to describe the deletion of 'Who/Which' + 'Is'.
Conversation Starters
Do you know the person sitting next to you?
What's the most interesting book written in your language?
Have you ever seen a movie filmed in your hometown?
In your opinion, what are the main challenges facing the world today?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
The man who is standing by the window is my uncle.
The car ___ (repair) yesterday is working now.
Find and fix the mistake:
The girl who singing is very talented.
Anyone ___ (want) to leave early must ask for permission.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
I saw a dog. It was barking at the mailman.
The cake eaten by the boy was chocolate.
Find the odd one out.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesThe man who is standing by the window is my uncle.
The car ___ (repair) yesterday is working now.
Find and fix the mistake:
The girl who singing is very talented.
Anyone ___ (want) to leave early must ask for permission.
1. The book that is on the table. 2. The man who was arrested. 3. The path that leads home.
I saw a dog. It was barking at the mailman.
The cake eaten by the boy was chocolate.
Find the odd one out.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe old house ___ on the hill is haunted.
The decision making by the committee was controversial.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'El documento escrito por el profesor es muy claro.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the clauses:
The new phone `____` with advanced features is quite expensive.
The students discussing the project needs more time.
Which option is grammatically sound?
Translate into English: 'La información obtenida de la encuesta es crucial.'
Create a sentence:
Match the sentences:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No. You can only reduce a relative clause if the relative pronoun (who, which, that) is the **subject** of the clause. If it's the object, you can't use this method.
Generally, no. It only changes the style and tone, making it more concise. However, in some cases, it can make a sentence feel more 'permanent' or 'characteristic'.
No, clauses starting with `whose` cannot be reduced using the Whiz-deletion method. They must remain full clauses.
Both are possible but have different meanings. 'The concerned people' means they are worried. 'The people concerned' (reduced clause) means the people involved in the matter.
Yes! 'The man who was running' becomes 'The man running'. The -ing form doesn't mean 'present'; it means 'active'.
They are used in both! However, they are especially common in formal writing (academic, legal) to save space and sound objective.
You change the main verb to its -ing form. 'The path that leads home' becomes 'The path leading home'.
Yes. Place 'not' before the participle: 'Students not living on campus must pay a fee.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Participio adjetival
Spanish present participles cannot modify nouns directly.
Participe présent / passé
English reduced clauses are common in speech; French ones are mostly literary.
Partizipialattribut
Word order: German puts the reduced phrase before the noun.
連体修飾 (Rentai shuushoku)
No relative pronouns exist, and the modifier always comes first.
اسم الفاعل / اسم المفعول
Agreement in definiteness is required in Arabic.
的 (de) construction
Chinese modifiers always precede the noun and use 'de'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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