ESL Lesson Plan

RC1.7 Shortening of relative clauses

The movie we watched last

night was excellent.
•What is the name of that boy who just
walked in?
Here the clause ‘who just walked in’ is an
example of a relative clause. It modifies the
noun boy. 
 Defining relative clauses

Look at the defining relative clauses.

The meaning of the sentences is the same.

What has happened to the second sentence in each group?

She doesn’t like the jacket that I bought.

She doesn’t like the jacket I bought.

The car that I was driving last week has broken down.
The car I was driving last week has broken down.

Remember: these sentences contain

a defining relative clause.
 Making the clause shorter

You don’t always need to include who, that, and which

in a relative clause.

In defining relative clauses, when the relative pronoun is

the object of the clause, we can drop the relative pronoun.

She loves the gift that I bought. We know that is

the object of the
clause because it
this is a relative clause after the object, the gift. is followed by the
pronoun, I.
Therefore, we can remove the relative pronoun that.

She loves the gift I bought.

 Making the clause shorter

You don’t always need to include who, that, and which

in a relative clause.

In defining relative clauses, when the relative pronoun is

the object of the clause we can drop the relative pronoun.

The university that she attended is the best in the

country.
this is a relative clause after the subject, the university. We know that is
the object of the
clause because
Therefore, we can remove the relative pronoun that. it’s followed by the
pronoun, she.

The university she attended is the best in the country.

 Be careful…

This doesn’t work for non-defining relative clauses!

Who is the object of the relative clause, but we cannot

remove who because it’s a non-defining relative clause!

My sister, who I haven’t seen in two years, is coming to

visit.

Which is the subject of the relative clause, but we cannot

remove which because it’s a non-defining relative clause!

The university, which she attended in 2006, is the best in

the country.
 Remember!

You can drop the relative pronoun only if…

…the clause is defining, and

the relative pronoun is the object of the clause.

If the relative pronoun is the subject

of the clause, you cannot drop it! who is the
subject of the
relative clause

The man who drives me to school is 82 years old.

Therefore, we cannot remove the relative pronoun who.

 Can we remove the pronoun?

Look at each statement. Is the relative pronoun the subject

or object of a defining or non-defining clause?

1. The book that I was reading was very interesting.

This is a defining clause. That is the object of the clause.
Therefore, we can remove that.

2. She is the girl who stole the money from the bank.

3. That’s the boy who I invited to the party.

4. We went to the town that Brian recommended.

 Can we remove the pronoun?

Look at each statement. Is the relative pronoun the subject

or object of a defining or non-defining clause?

6. The hospital that Sally works in is in

the center of town. Remember! If the
relative pronoun is
the subject of the
7. Edward, who failed the test on clause, you cannot
Friday, has to do it again next week. drop it!

8. The man who used to live there

moved out recently.

9. The apples that we ate last week

were delicious.
 Making the clause shorter still!

You don’t always need to include who, that, and which

in a relative clause.
When the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause and
the clause contains a present or past participle and the
auxiliary verb to be, both the relative pronoun and the
auxiliary verb can be dropped.

who is the subject of the relative clause.

I know the man who is standing by the door.

the relative clause contains ‘to be’ + present participle.

I know the man standing by the door.

 Making the clause shorter

Let’s take a look at another example:

subject of the relative clause form of ‘to be’

Do you know the people who are sitting over

there?
present participle

Therefore, we can drop the relative pronoun who and the

auxiliary verb are

Do you know the people sitting over there?

 Making the clause shorter

And another example:

subject of the relative clause

The airplane that was flying overhead made a loud

noise.
form of ‘to be’ present participle

Therefore, we can drop the relative pronoun that and the

auxiliary verb was

The airplane flying overhead made a loud noise.

 Making the clause shorter

Last example before you get some practice!

subject of the relative clause

Most of the business professionals who were invited

to the conference didn’t attend.
form of ‘to be’ past participle

Therefore, we can drop the relative pronoun who and the

auxiliary verb were
Most of the business professionals invited to the
conference didn’t attend.
 Your turn to shorten the sentence!

Read the sentence and answer each question separately.

Anyone who is caught cheating will be kicked out of

school.
What is the relative pronoun? Is there a
form of to be?

What is the subject of the Is there a present or

relative clause? past participle?

What is the reduced sentence?

 Let’s review

Remember: you don’t always need to include who, that,

and which in a relative clause.

We don’t need the relative pronoun if it is the object of a

defining clause.

I found the textbook that the professor told the class to

buy.

I saw the movie that you recommended to me a while ago.

We ate the food that they had prepared for us.

In all these sentences, that is the
object of a defining clause
 Let’s review

When the relative pronoun is the subject of a clause

containing a form of to be and a present participle or a past
participle, we can also drop the form of to be.

Can you see the man who is playing the guitar?

Subject of a defining clause

The company that was formed this year has already made
$1 million.
Subject of a defining clause
 Can you shorten the sentence?

Let’s look at the sentence below.

My uncle, who is a dentist, is

single.
What is the relative pronoun?
Does who act as the
subject or the object of the
relative clause?
Is this a defining or non-
defining clause?

Can we remove who?

 What about this one?

Let’s look at the sentence below.

The person who I was talking to was really nice!

       
What is the relative pronoun?
Does who act as the
subject or the object of the
relative clause?
Is this a defining or non-
defining clause?

Can we remove who?

 And this one?

Let’s look at the sentence below.

Do you see that woman who is wearing the bright

yellow dress?         

Is this a defining or non-

defining clause? Does who act as the
subject or the object of the
relative clause?
Does the relative clause
contain a form of to be and
a present or past participle?

Can we reduce the relative clause?

 Time to practice

Reduce the following sentences if possible.

Explain clearly why you can or cannot shorten each sentence

10. New York, which is the largest city in the United States,
is a special place.
11. The pizzeria that is located across the street is terrible!
12. The museum that is situated in the center of town is
closed today.
13. The girl, who is crying, just heard some bad news.
14. The film that is set in London is about football
hooligans.
 Time to practice

The following relative clauses have been reduced.

Reinsert the relative pronoun and form of ‘to be’, if required.

15. Who is the man that is waving at us?

16. The money _____ collected will go to a charity

organization.

17. The man _____ talking to my husband is his boss.

18. The train _____ arriving now will go to Paris.

19. None of the people _____ randomly selected passed the

test.