Adjective phrases are very similar to adjective clauses except they don't have a subject and a verb. People use them to shorten their sentences so that it's easier to say.

Adjective clause Anyone who is interested in film should watch this movie.
Adjective phrase Anyone interested in film should watch this movie. (the relative pronoun who and the verb is are deleted, leaving a defining phrase modifying anyone).

Reducing Adjective clauses

There are two ways to do this. If the adjective clause contains a form of the verb be, delete the relative pronoun, the form of be, and any accompanying auxiliaries.

Adjective clause Avatar, which is said to have cost over 200 million to make, is well on its way to becoming the highest grossing movie of all time.
Adjective phrase Avatar, said to have cost over 200 million to make, is well on its way to becoming the highest grossing movie of all time.

The second way to do this is. If the adjective clause does not contain a form of the verb be, delete the relative pronoun and change the verb to its present participial form.

Adjective clause Avatar, which stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, is on its way to becoming the highest grossing movie of all time.
Adjective phrase Avatar, starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, is on its way to becoming the highest grossing movie of all time.

In Which Case


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Exercises

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