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Reduced Relative Clauses (Participial)

Shortening defining relative clauses with -ing/-ed or to-infinitive forms

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When to Use Reduced Relative Clauses (Participial)

  • •Defining clauses where subject/object pronoun can be dropped: The man (who is) sitting there.
  • •-ing for active meaning: Students (who are) taking the test.
  • •-ed for passive meaning: Books (that are) written in English.
  • •to-infinitive for purpose/possibility: the best place to eat.
  • •Avoid reducing non-defining clauses; keep commas for non-reduced forms.

How to Form Reduced Relative Clauses (Participial)

Affirmative (+)

Drop who/that + be and use -ing/-ed; or use to + base for purpose/possibility

Negative (-)

Add not before -ing/-ed/ to phrase as needed

Question (?)

Not applicable (relative forms)

💡 Ensure subject match; don't reduce if ambiguity or necessary verb.

Examples of Reduced Relative Clauses (Participial)

✓The people waiting outside are students.

✗The people are waiting outside are students.

Remove who are; use -ing.

✓The documents sent yesterday need signatures.

✗The documents sending yesterday need signatures.

Passive meaning uses -ed/pp form.

✓She was the first person to arrive.

✗She was the first person arriving.

Use to + base for purpose/sequence.

Common Mistakes with Reduced Relative Clauses (Participial)

💡 Practice Tips for Reduced Relative Clauses (Participial)

  • • Only reduce defining clauses; keep non-defining with commas intact.
  • • Active meaning → -ing; passive meaning → -ed/pp; purpose → to + base.
  • • Check for ambiguity after reduction; keep full clause if unclear.
  • • Do not drop essential verbs other than be when reducing.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.Which is the correct reduced form of 'The man who is sitting there is my uncle'? 
  2. Question 2: Reduce: 'The documents that were sent yesterday need signatures.' → The documents blank yesterday need signatures.
    2.Reduce: 'The documents that were sent yesterday need signatures.' → The documents yesterday need signatures.
  3. Question 3: Reduce: 'The people who are waiting outside are students.' → The people blank outside are students.
    3.Reduce: 'The people who are waiting outside are students.' → The people outside are students.
  4. Question 4: Use a to-infinitive: 'She was the first person blank (arrive).'
    4.Use a to-infinitive: 'She was the first person (arrive).'
  5. Question 5: Reduce passive: 'The emails that were written yesterday were urgent.' → The emails blank yesterday were urgent.
    5.Reduce passive: 'The emails that were written yesterday were urgent.' → The emails yesterday were urgent.
  6. Question 6: Choose the right form: 'The best place blank (eat) is here.'
    6.Choose the right form: 'The best place (eat) is here.'
  7. Question 7: True or false: You can reduce 'My brother, who lives in Spain, is visiting' to 'My brother living in Spain is visiting'.blank
    7.True or false: You can reduce 'My brother, who lives in Spain, is visiting' to 'My brother living in Spain is visiting'.
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