In Grammar 4-1 , you reviewed some relative clause structures. All of the examples you were shown and worked on were defining relative clauses. A defining relative clause contains necessary information that identifies the noun the speaker is referring to.

  • The boy who was playing football was Jim. (which boy?)
  • My friend that I met in New York loves baseball. (which friend?)

Without the information in the defining relative clauses, it isn’t clear which ‘boy’ and ‘friend’ the speakers are referring to.

In this lesson, you’ll be looking at variations of defining relative clauses.

Omitting the Relative Pronoun

Sometimes, we can omit the relative pronoun to shorten a defining relative clause. This is especially common in informal situations.

In this example, the word television is being defined:

  • The television that he bought was for the living room.

The relative pronoun that can be omitted.

  • The television he bought was for the living room.

As you can see, the relative clause is an object clause. Only relative pronouns that introduce object clauses can be omitted. Relative pronouns can never be omitted in subject clauses.

  • Correct

    The television which is brand new isn’t working well.

  • Incorrect

    The television is brand new isn’t working well.

Reducing Relative Clauses with the Present Participle

Sometimes, you can reduce a relative clause by using a present participle.

If the relative clause is in the active voice, it can be reduced by removing the relative pronoun and replacing the main verb with its present participle. Keep in mind that you can only do this when the relative pronoun serves as the subject of the relative clause.

  • There are many children who are eating their lunch in the classroom.
    • There are many children who are eating their lunch in the classroom.
  • The car that was approaching the tornado decided to turn around.
    • The car that was approaching the tornado decided to turn around.

Note that the present participle can replace an active verb in any tense, not just continuous tenses.

  • The students that study every day get the highest grades in the class.
    • The students that studystudying every day get the highest grades in the class.
  • The people who lived in the building had to move after the fire.
    • The people who livedliving in the building had to move after the fire.

If the main verb in the relative clause is negative, then we use not at the beginning of the participle phrase.

  • Anyone who is not listening now won’t know what to do later.
    • Anyone not listening now won’t know what to do later.

Defining Infinitive Clauses

Another way of simplifying a regular defining relative clause is to use a defining infinitive clause.

  • The first people that flew airplanes were the Wright brothers.
    • The first people to fly airplanes were the Wright brothers.
  • Malala Yousafzai is the youngest person who has won a Nobel Peace Prize.
    • Malala Yousafzai is the youngest person to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Note that this is only possible when the noun being modified is the subject of the infinitive verb.

  • Correct

    The kitchen was the final room that they cleaned. (they is the subject, not room)

  • Incorrect

    The kitchen was the final room to clean.

In cases like this, it is often possible to use the passive voice instead.

  • Correct

    The kitchen was the final room that was cleaned. (passive verb)
    The kitchen was the final room to be cleaned. (passive infinitive)

It is also important to note that infinitive clauses are usually only used with restrictive markers, which include.

  1. next, last, only
  2. superlatives (most, biggest, smallest, etc.)
  3. ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.)

 

  • He is usually the last person that leaves the room.
    • He is usually the last person to leave the room
  • The third train which arrived was going to New York.
    • The third train to arrive was going to New York.

Exercise

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