Describe the concept of 'reduced relative clauses' and provide examples.

Relative Clauses Questions Long



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Describe the concept of 'reduced relative clauses' and provide examples.

Reduced relative clauses are a type of relative clause that has been shortened or modified in a way that eliminates certain elements, such as the relative pronoun or the verb "be." Despite the reduction, the meaning of the clause remains intact. This reduction is often used to make sentences more concise and to avoid repetition.

There are several ways in which a relative clause can be reduced. Let's explore some examples:

1. Omitting the relative pronoun:
- Original sentence: The book that I bought yesterday is really interesting.
- Reduced relative clause: The book I bought yesterday is really interesting.

2. Omitting the relative pronoun and the verb "be":
- Original sentence: The woman who is sitting next to me is my sister.
- Reduced relative clause: The woman sitting next to me is my sister.

3. Omitting the relative pronoun and using a present participle:
- Original sentence: The car that is parked outside belongs to my neighbor.
- Reduced relative clause: The car parked outside belongs to my neighbor.

4. Omitting the relative pronoun and using a past participle:
- Original sentence: The cake that was made by my mom is delicious.
- Reduced relative clause: The cake made by my mom is delicious.

5. Omitting the relative pronoun and using a prepositional phrase:
- Original sentence: The boy who is in the red shirt is my friend.
- Reduced relative clause: The boy in the red shirt is my friend.

It is important to note that not all relative clauses can be reduced. The reduction depends on the structure and meaning of the original sentence. Additionally, reduced relative clauses are more commonly used in spoken English and informal writing rather than in formal writing.