Grammar activities

1. RC1.7 Shortening of relative clauses
Lesson 7/8
The movie we watched last
night was excellent.
ESL Lesson Plan

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3. Defining relative clauses
Look at the defining relative clauses.
The meaning of the sentences is the same.
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.
What has happened to the second sentence in each group?
Remember: these sentences contain
a defining relative clause.

4. Making the clause shorter
You don’t always need to include who, that, and which
in a relative clause.
She loves the gift that I bought.
She loves the gift I bought.
this is a relative clause after the object, the gift.
In defining relative clauses, when the relative pronoun is
the object of the clause, we can drop the relative pronoun.
Therefore, we can remove the relative pronoun that.
We know that is
the object of the
clause because it
is followed by the
pronoun, I.

5. Making the clause shorter
The university that she attended is the best in the country.
The university she attended is the best in the country.
this is a relative clause after the subject, the university.
In defining relative clauses, when the relative pronoun is
the object of the clause we can drop the relative pronoun.
Therefore, we can remove the relative pronoun that.
We know that is
the object of the
clause because
it’s followed by the
pronoun, she.
You don’t always need to include who, that, and which
in a relative clause.

6. Be careful…
This doesn’t work for non-defining relative clauses!
My sister, who I haven’t seen in two years, is coming to visit.
Who is the object of the relative clause, but we cannot
remove who because it’s a non-defining relative clause!
The university, which she attended in 2006, is the best in
the country.
Which is the subject of the relative clause, but we cannot
remove which because it’s a non-defining relative clause!

7. Remember!
You can drop the relative pronoun only if…
The man who drives me to school is 82 years old.
If the relative pronoun is the subject
of the clause, you cannot drop it!
…the clause is defining, and
the relative pronoun is the object of the clause.
Therefore, we cannot remove the relative pronoun who.
who is the
subject of the
relative clause

8. Can we remove the pronoun?
1. The book that I was reading was very interesting.
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.
5. She has a son who is a doctor.
Look at each statement. Is the relative pronoun the subject
or object of a defining or non-defining clause?
This is a defining clause. That is the object of the clause.
Therefore, we can remove that.

9. Can we remove the pronoun?
6. The hospital that Sally works in is in the
center of town.
7. Edward, who failed the test on Friday,
has to do it again next week.
8. The man who used to live there moved
out recently.
9. The apples that we ate last week were
delicious.
Look at each statement. Is the relative pronoun the subject
or object of a defining or non-defining clause?
Remember! If the
relative pronoun is
the subject of the
clause, you cannot
drop it!

10. Making the clause shorter still!
I know the man who is standing by the door.
who is the subject of the 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.
the relative clause contains ‘to be’ + present participle.
I know the man standing by the door.
You don’t always need to include who, that, and which
in a relative clause.

11. Making the clause shorter
Let’s take a look at another example:
Do you know the people who are sitting over there?
subject of the relative clause
present participle
form of ‘to be’
Therefore, we can drop the relative pronoun who and the
auxiliary verb are
Do you know the people sitting over there?

12. Making the clause shorter
And another example:
The airplane that was flying overhead made a loud noise.
subject of the relative clause
present participle
form of ‘to be’
Therefore, we can drop the relative pronoun that and the
auxiliary verb was
The airplane flying overhead made a loud noise.

13. Making the clause shorter
Last example before you get some practice!
Most of the business professionals who were invited to the
conference didn’t attend.
subject of the relative clause
past participle
form of ‘to be’
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.

14. 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 subject of the
relative clause?
Is there a present or
past participle?
Is there a
form of to be?
What is the relative pronoun?
What is the reduced sentence?

15. Let’s review
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
Remember: you don’t always need to include who, that,
and which in a relative clause.

16. 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?
The company that was formed this year has already made $1
million.
Subject of a defining clause
Subject of a defining clause

17. Can you shorten the sentence?
Let’s look at the sentence below.
My uncle, who is a dentist, is single.
Is this a defining or
non-defining clause?
Does who act as the
subject or the object of the
relative clause?
What is the relative pronoun?
Can we remove who?

18. What about this one?
Let’s look at the sentence below.
The person who I was talking to was really nice!
Is this a defining or
non-defining clause?
Does who act as the
subject or the object of the
relative clause?
What is the relative pronoun?
Can we remove who?

19. 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?

20. Time to practice
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.
Reduce the following sentences if possible.
Explain clearly why you can or cannot shorten each sentence

21. Time to practice
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.
The following relative clauses have been reduced.
Reinsert the relative pronoun and form of ‘to be’, if required.