1. Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will learn:
- What reduced clauses are
- How to reduce relative clauses
- How to form participle clauses
- How to use -ing clauses
- How to use -ed clauses
- How to use to-infinitive clauses
- Common errors in clause reduction
Reduced clauses help avoid repetition and improve the formal tone of writing.
2. What Is Clause Reduction?
Clause reduction shortens a dependent clause.
Full clause:
The students who were studying in the library were silent.
Reduced clause:
The students studying in the library were silent.
Meaning stays the same. Structure becomes concise.
3. Reducing Relative Clauses (Present Participle)
If relative clause uses:
who/which/that + be + -ing form
We remove the relative pronoun and “be”.
Full:
The scientist who is researching climate change published a paper.
Reduced:
The scientist researching climate change published a paper.
4. Reducing Relative Clauses (Past Participle)
If the clause is passive:
Full:
The books that were written by Shakespeare are famous.
Reduced:
The books written by Shakespeare are famous.
Remove “that were.”
5. Reducing with To-Infinitive
Used for a purpose or future meaning.
Full:
She was the first person who solved the problem.
Reduced:
She was the first person to solve the problem.
Purpose:
Full:
She studies hard so that she can pass.
Reduced:
She studies hard to pass.
6. Adverb Clause Reduction (-ing Form)
When the subject is the same in both clauses.
Full:
After she finished the exam, she left.
Reduced:
After finishing the exam, she left.
Full:
While he was walking through the forest, he saw a tiger.
Reduced:
While walking through the forest, he saw a tiger.
7. Perfect Participle
Used for completed action before the main clause.
Full:
After she had completed the report, she submitted it.
Reduced:
Having completed the report, she submitted it.
8. Important Rule: Same Subject Required
Incorrect:
Walking through the forest, a tiger was seen.
(Dangling modifier)
Correct:
Walking through the forest, he saw a tiger.
The subject must match.
9. Summary of Reduction Types
|
Type |
Example |
|
Present participle |
Students studying |
|
Past participle |
Books written |
|
To-infinitive |
First person to win |
|
-ing adverb clause |
After finishing |
|
Perfect participle |
Having completed |
10. Common Errors
⚠ Reducing when subjects differ
Incorrect: While driving to work, the traffic was heavy.
(The traffic was not driving.)
Correct: While driving to work, she encountered heavy traffic.
A reduced clause is only possible when both clauses share the same subject.
⚠ Removing necessary elements
Incorrect: The man wearing a blue jacket yesterday.
(Incomplete — missing main verb.)
Correct: The man wearing a blue jacket spoke at the conference yesterday.
Reduction should not remove the main clause or essential verb.
⚠ Confusing passive and active forms
Incorrect: The documents signing yesterday were approved.
Correct: The documents signed yesterday were approved.
Incorrect: The students completed the project were praised.
Correct: The students who completed the project were praised.
Be careful when reducing active vs passive clauses:
• Active → present participle (-ing)
• Passive → past participle (-ed / irregular form)
Reducing when subjects differ
Incorrect: While driving to work, the traffic was heavy.
(The traffic was not driving.)
Correct: While driving to work, she encountered heavy traffic.
A reduced clause is only possible when both clauses share the same subject.
⚠ Removing necessary elements
Incorrect: The man wearing a blue jacket yesterday.
(Incomplete — missing main verb.)
Correct: The man wearing a blue jacket spoke at the conference yesterday.
Reduction should not remove the main clause or essential verb.
⚠ Confusing passive and active forms
Incorrect: The documents signing yesterday were approved.
Correct: The documents signed yesterday were approved.
Incorrect: The students completed the project were praised.
Correct: The students who completed the project were praised.
Be careful when reducing active vs passive clauses:
• Active → present participle (-ing)
• Passive → past participle (-ed/irregular form)
11. End of Lesson Check
You should now be able to:
✅ Reduce relative clauses correctly
✅ Use participle clauses appropriately
✅ Maintain subject consistency
✅ Write concise academic sentences
✅ Avoid dangling modifiers