Clause reduction 2

Reducing a modifying clause — active voice

Reducing an active voice clause

FULL MODIFYING CLAUSE	REDUCED MODIFYING CLAUSE
A modifying clause with an active voice verb form can be shortened. (An active voice verb is one in which the subject of the sentence is the "doer" or "agent" of the action.)	The relative pronoun of the clause is deleted and the verb form is changed to a present participle form (-ing).
PRESENT TENSE Congress, which consists of two houses, is on a break. (non-restrictive clause)	PRESENT PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE Congress, consisting of two houses, is on a break.
PAST TENSE The stock market, which crashed to its lowest point of the year, worried Congress. (non-restrictive clause)	PRESENT PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE The stock market, crashing to its lowest point of the year, worried Congress.

FULL MODIFYING CLAUSE

REDUCED MODIFYING CLAUSE

A modifying clause with an active voice verb form can be shortened. (An active voice verb is one in which the subject of the sentence is the "doer" or "agent" of the action.)

The relative pronoun of the clause is deleted and the verb form is changed to a present participle form (-ing).

PRESENT TENSE

Congress, which consists of two houses, is on a break. (non-restrictive clause)

PRESENT PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE

Congress, consisting of two houses, is on a break.

PAST TENSE

The stock market, which crashed to its lowest point of the year, worried Congress. (non-restrictive clause)

PRESENT PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE

The stock market, crashing to its lowest point of the year, worried Congress.

Use commas before and after the clause if the it is non-restrictive (non-identifying).
See Clause Reduc 1 for reducing clauses with passive verbs.
Also see commas use Some or All.

Clause Reduction

Present Tense

Reducing a present tense clause

FULL MODIFYING CLAUSE			REDUCED MODIFYING CLAUSE
A modifying clause with present or present progressive (active voice) verb form can be reduced or shortened.			Remove the relative pronoun (that, who, which) and change the verb form to a present participle form (-ing). Then (nonfinite) clause becomes part of the subject, now a subject clause.
SUBJECT The senator	MODIFYING CLAUSE who is supporting clean energy	VERB + COMPLEMENT explained his plan.	SUBJECT CLAUSE The senator supporting clean energy	VERB + COMPLEMENT explained his position.
The Senate,	which is working late,	will pass a new law.	The Senate, working late,†	will pass a new law.
Gas	that costs over $4 dollars a gallon	is upsetting citizens.	Gas costing over $4 dollars a gallon	is upsetting citizens.

complement – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary in a sentence to complete its meaning

†

Clause Reduction

Past Tense

Reducing a Past Tense Clause

FULL MODIFYING CLAUSE			REDUCED MODIFYING CLAUSE
A modifying clause with past or past progressive (active voice) verb form can be reduced or shortened.			Remove the relative pronoun (that, who, which) and change the verb form to a present participle form (-ing). Then present participial clause becomes part of the subject, now a subject clause.
SUBJECT The senator	MODIFYING CLAUSE who was walking forward	VERB + COMPLEMENT dropped his glasses.	SUBJECT CLAUSE The senator walking forward	VERB + COMPLEMENT dropped his glasses.
The glasses	that lay on the floor	belonged to the senator.	The glasses lying on the floor	belonged to the senator.
The speaker	who was from Arizona	asked for ten more minutes.	The speaker from Arizona	asked for ten more minutes.

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
*The Senate, discussing bills, reviews and passes them. The tense is awkward. A shortened clause often gives the meaning that something is ongoing. .	The Senate discusses, reviews and passes bills. The sentence would be better stated as a series of verbs. The Senate, discussing bills, reviews the pros and cons of them. (This could method by discussing or while discussing) pros and cons – advantages and disadvantages
*The speaker dropping his glasses took four vacations with his private jet last year. The clause seems unrelated to the rest of the sentence.	The speaker who just dropped his glasses took four vacations with his private jet last year. Keeping the full clause tends to better identify the person talked about in the rest of the sentence.. The speaker talking about over-spending took four vacations with his private jet last year.
*A translator speaking several languages is very valuable. The time frame is awkward in the shortened sentence. Is the translators activity ongoing?	A translator that can speak several languages is very valuable. See participial adjectives Ongoing.
*A man reaching his goals will be very happy in life. The time frame is awkward. Will the happiness occur at the same time or later?	A man who can reach his goals will be very happy in life. Shortening a clause with a modal will cause a change in meaning; it doesn't work. A man who reaches his goals will be very happy in life. Use the full clause.

ERROR

FIX

*The Senate, discussing bills, reviews and passes them.

The tense is awkward. A shortened clause often gives the meaning that something is ongoing. .

The Senate discusses, reviews and passes bills.
The sentence would be better stated as a series of verbs.

The Senate, discussing bills, reviews the pros and cons of them.
(This could method by discussing or while discussing)

pros and cons – advantages and disadvantages

*The speaker dropping his glasses took four vacations with his private jet last year.

The clause seems unrelated to the rest of the sentence.

The speaker who just dropped his glasses took four vacations with his private jet last year. Keeping the full clause tends to better identify the person talked about in the rest of the sentence..

The speaker talking about over-spending took four vacations with his private jet last year.

*A translator speaking several languages is very valuable.

The time frame is awkward in the shortened sentence. Is the translators activity ongoing?

A translator that can speak several languages is very valuable.

See participial adjectives Ongoing.

*A man reaching his goals will be very happy in life.

The time frame is awkward. Will the happiness occur at the same time or later?

A man who can reach his goals will be very happy in life.
Shortening a clause with a modal will cause a change in meaning; it doesn't work.

A man who reaches his goals will be very happy in life.
Use the full clause.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Related topic: What is the difference? Gerund-Participles

Grammar Notes

Diagrams

FULL MODIFYING CLAUSE	REDUCED MODIFYING CLAUSE
The full modifying clause still has a subject (which) and a verb (consists) marked for tense and person agreement. This is also called a finite clause.	The reduced modifying clause no longer has a subject and the verb is no longer marked for tense or person agreement. This reduced clause is also called a nonfinite clause. Other examples
Click the diagram to enlarge it.

FULL MODIFYING CLAUSE

REDUCED MODIFYING CLAUSE

The full modifying clause still has a subject (which) and a verb (consists) marked for tense and person agreement. This is also called a finite clause.

The reduced modifying clause no longer has a subject and the verb is no longer marked for tense or person agreement. This reduced clause is also called a nonfinite clause. Other examples

Click the diagram to enlarge it.

Clause; Subject / Predicate; Finite / Nonfinite; NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det. – determiner

Practice

Health

Reduce the modifying clause to a participial clause.

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE - SHORTEN THE CLAUSE	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
1.	A healthy diet that includes fruit and fiber will decrease one's risk of cancer. A healthy diet fruit and fiber will decrease one's risk of cancer.
2.	A family that takes vitamins has fewer visits to the doctor. A family vitamins has fewer visits to the doctor.
3.	The study said that children who attended preschool often had more colds. The study said that children preschool often had more colds.
4.	Joggers who will run in the marathon should get to the stadium early to warm up. Joggers in the marathon should get to the stadium early to warm up.
5.	A person who does at least 30 minutes of exercise a day will feel better. A person at least 30 minutes of exercise a day will feel better.
6.	Senior citizens who keep active tend to live longer, happier lives. Senior citizens active tend to live longer, happier lives.
7.	Fifty years ago, many people who suffered from Tuberculosis eventually died. Fifty years ago, many people from Tuberculosis eventually died.
8.	Today, the number of people who die from AIDs is finally decreasing. Today, the number of people from AIDs is finally decreasing.
9.	People who don't vote should not complain about their government. People should not complain about their government.
10.	Do you think that a person who smokes around children in public should be cited? Do you think that a person around children in public should be cited?

Practice 2

Modern Politicians

Politicians who are running for office are having to make changes in order to appeal to today's youth. Old-style politicians who boast twenty-five years or more of experience are having difficulty getting younger voters to join their campaigns. A politician who knows how the system works is less valued than a politician who imagines how the system can work in the future. Political loyalties, that were once solid and unlikely to change, now shift quickly, particularly with so many independent voters. The political power of unions that once supported candidates, are now waning and under serious attack.

In the past, politicians who were successful only had to concern themselves with effectively using the television and the news media. Nowaday, politicians who may know nothing about tweeting and posting on social media sites, have to appear as if they do. Modern politicians who run for office require a lot of money for expenses. At the same time, modern politicians cannot appear wealthy; they must appear to be like the average person who is struggling with work, family and healthcare. A successful, modern politician is charismatic, captures the imagination of the country's youth and motivates them to work for the good of all.

Correct or Incorrect?

Read each sentence and decide if it is correct. Select your response.
Read the feedback to compare your response to the answer.

#	SENTENCE & FEEDBACK	SELECT THE SENTENCE SUBJECT
11.	Politicians who running for office are having to make changes in order to appeal to today's youth. appeal to (v.) – be attractive; gain favor with	Correct Incorrect Feedback 11
12.	Old-style politicians boasting twenty-five years or more of experience are having difficulty getting younger voters to join their campaigns. boast (v.) – to talk too proudly about one's accomplishments	Correct Incorrect Feedback 12
13.	A politician knowing how the system works is less valued than a politician who imagines how the system can work in the future. potentially (adv.) – having future possibility to change	Correct Incorrect Feedback 13
14.	Political loyalties, were once solid and unlikely to change, now shift quickly, particularly with so many independent voters. once (adv.) –at some time in the past but not now loyalty (n.) – the quality of remaining faithful to friends	Correct Incorrect Feedback 14
15.	The political power of unions, supported candidates in the past, are now waning and under serious attack. once (adv.) –at some time in the past but not now wane (v.) – become gradually less strong or less important; weak	Correct Incorrect Feedback 15
16.	In the past, politicians being successful only had to concern themselves with effectively using the television and the news media.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 16
17.	Nowaday, politicians knowing nothing about tweeting and posting on social media sites, have to appear as if they do.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 17
18.	Modern politicians require a lot of money for expenses running for office.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 18
19.	At the same time, modern politicians cannot appear wealthy; they must appear to be like the average person struggled with work, family and healthcare.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 19
20.	A successful, modern politician is charismatic, capturing the imagination of the country's youth and motivates them to work for the good of all. charismatic (adj.) – having a natural ability to attract and interest other people and get their admiration	Correct Incorrect Feedback 20

Grammar-Quizzes.com

PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Clause Reduction 2

Reducing a modifying clause — active voice

Reducing an active voice clause

Clause Reduction

Present Tense

Reducing a present tense clause

Clause Reduction

Past Tense

Reducing a Past Tense Clause

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Diagrams

Practice

Health

Reduce the modifying clause to a participial clause.

Practice 2

Modern Politicians

Correct or Incorrect?