Reductive Relative Clause
You may delete the relative pronoun and the be verb when:
1. they are followed by a prepositional phrase.
A) The man who is in the house is my father.
(The man in the house is my father.)
B) The books that are on the desk are mine
(The books on the desk are mine.)
2. the main verb in the relative clause is progressive.
A) The man who is swimming in the lake is my father.
(The man swimming in the lake is my father.)
B) The books that are lying on the floor are mine.
(The books lying on the floor are mine.)
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
X The man 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.
X The man a doctor is my father.
The relative pronoun can be deleted if there is a new subject and verb following it:
A. This is the house that Jack built.
B. This is the house Jack built.
A. The person whom you see is my father.
B. The person you see is my father.
A. This is the place where I live.
B. This is the place I live.
A. I don't know the reason why she is late.
B. I don't know the reason she is late
(Also : I don't know why she is late. )
A. The woman whom he likes is married.
B. The woman he likes is married.
Notes:
Do not delete a relative pronoun that is followed by a verb other than be:
The man who likes lasagna is my father.
X The man likes lasagna is my father.
Never delete the relative pronoun whose:
The man whose car broke down went to the station.
X The man car broke down went to the station.
Reducting Adverbial Clauses
Same time
Time clauses with "while" and "when" can be reduced by deleting the subject and "be" verb.
Example:
> While I was eating dinner, I watched television.
> While eating dinner, I watched television.
> When you are in Rome, (you) do as the Romans do.
> When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
If there is no "be" verb, change the verb in the subordinating clause to its -ing form. Sometimes the subordinator (when or while) can be deleted as well.
Example:
> When I opened the door, I saw a strange sight.
>When opening the door, I saw a strange sight.
> Opening the door, I saw a strange sight.
Note: If the subjects are different, you may not reduce the adverbial clause.
> While I was taking a shower, my sister called from California.
While taking a shower, my sister called from California (Incorrect)
Be careful when reducing time clauses that come at the end of sentences.
Example:
> We saw many beautiful birds while we were fishing in the lake.
> We saw many beautiful birds while fishing in the lake.
We saw many beautiful birds fishing in the lake. (incorrect)
In the last sentence, the meaning is ambiguous: Are we fishing or are the birds fishing?
Different times
Example:
> After I finished my homework, I went to bed.
> After finishing my homework, I went to bed.
> After I had finished my homework, I went to bed.
> After having finished my homework, I went to bed.
> Having finished my homework, I went to bed.
> Before he left the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.
Before leaving the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.
Other clauses
Sometimes clauses with because can be reduced.
Example:
> Because he was a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
> Being a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
> As a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
Please leave coment if there is something you don't understand :)
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