Relative Clauses Questions Long
In relative clauses of result, the concept of 'omission' refers to the omission or removal of certain elements from the main clause when constructing a relative clause. This omission is done to avoid repetition and make the sentence more concise and natural.
In English, the relative pronoun 'that' is often omitted in relative clauses of result. This omission is possible when the relative pronoun is the object of the verb in the main clause. For example:
Main clause: The book was so interesting that I couldn't put it down.
Relative clause of result: The book was so interesting I couldn't put it down.
In the above example, the relative pronoun 'that' is the object of the verb 'put' in the main clause. Therefore, it can be omitted in the relative clause of result.
Similarly, the relative pronoun 'which' can also be omitted in relative clauses of result when it is the object of a preposition in the main clause. For example:
Main clause: He gave me a gift, for which I am grateful.
Relative clause of result: He gave me a gift, for I am grateful.
In this example, the relative pronoun 'which' is the object of the preposition 'for' in the main clause. Hence, it can be omitted in the relative clause of result.
It is important to note that the omission of the relative pronoun is only possible when it is the object of the verb or preposition in the main clause. If the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb, it cannot be omitted. For example:
Main clause: The dog that barks loudly is annoying.
Relative clause of result: The dog barks loudly is annoying. (Incorrect)
In this example, the relative pronoun 'that' is the subject of the verb 'barks' in the main clause. Therefore, it cannot be omitted in the relative clause of result.
In conclusion, the concept of 'omission' in relative clauses of result involves the removal of the relative pronoun 'that' or 'which' when it is the object of the verb or preposition in the main clause. This omission helps to make the sentence more concise and natural, avoiding unnecessary repetition.