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. |
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 Senate, discussing bills,
reviews the pros and cons of them. 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. A man who reaches his goals will be very happy in life. |
*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. |
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.
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.


