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READY | Grammar & Writing
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Rule 1
In defining relative clauses, we can remove the relative pronoun that acts as an object.
- ✅The boy who/whom/ that you don’t like much wants to talk to you.
- ✅The boy you don’t like much wants to talk to you.
Rule 2
In non-defining clauses, we CANNOT remove relative pronoun NOR use “that”
- ✅Peter, who/ whom you don’t like much, wants to talk to you.
- ❌Peter, you don’t like much, wants to talk to you.
- ❌Peter, that you don’t like much, wants to talk to you.
Rule 3
Use participles to reduce the relative clause when the relative pronoun acts as a subject.
Present Participle (V-ing) (ACTIVE)
- ✅We stood on the bridge which/ that connects the two halves of the city.
- ✅We stood on the bridge connecting the two halves of the city.
Past Participle (V3) (PASSIVE)
- ✅The boy who/ that was attacked by the dog was taken to the hospital.
- ✅The boy attacked by the dog was taken to the hospital.
Rule 4
To reduce a relative clause with ADJECTIVE, follow these steps
- Remove the relative pronoun
- Remove the verb before the adjective (usually ‘be’, ‘become’, ‘seem’, ‘appear’, etc.)
- Put the adjective before noun
- The children who were happy played until nine in the evening.
- The happy children played until nine in the evening.
Rule 5
To reduce a relative clause with ADJECTIVE/ PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE, follow these steps
- Remove the relative pronoun
- Remove the verb before the adjective (usually ‘be’, ‘become’, ‘seem’, ‘appear’, etc.)
- Put the adjective after noun
- The product, which seemed perfect in many ways, failed to succeed in the market.
- The product, perfect in many ways, failed to succeed in the market.
Rule 6
We can use to infinitive in the following cases
- “the only”:
John is the only person who understands me.
John is the only person to understand me. - Superlatives
Tom is the most handsome boy who comes to this school.
Tom is the most handsome boy to come to this school. - “the first, last, next, second”, etc.
Jack is the first student who has handed in the paper.
Jack is the first student to have handed in the paper.