Reduced Relative Clauses
Reduced relative clauses shorten full relative clauses by removing the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb. They make writing more concise and are common in formal and academic prose.
What is a reduced relative clause?
A reduced relative clause omits the relative pronoun (who, which, that) and the auxiliary verb, using a participle instead.
Active reduction: present participle (-ing)
When the relative clause has an active meaning, replace who/which + verb with the present participle.
| Full relative clause | Reduced form |
|---|---|
| The man who is standing by the door is my uncle. | The man standing by the door is my uncle. |
| The package which arrived this morning is for you. | The package arriving this morning is for you. |
| Students who want to apply should contact the office. | Students wanting to apply should contact the office. |
Passive reduction: past participle (-ed/irregular)
When the relative clause is passive, replace who/which + be + past participle with the past participle alone.
| Full relative clause | Reduced form |
|---|---|
| The letter which was written by the CEO was leaked. | The letter written by the CEO was leaked. |
| The road which was blocked by snow was reopened. | The road blocked by snow was reopened. |
| Candidates who are selected will be notified. | Candidates selected will be notified. |
Reduction with perfect participle
The scientist who had discovered the compound announced her findings.
→ The scientist having discovered the compound announced her findings.
→ (or, more naturally) The scientist who discovered the compound announced her findings.
When reduction is NOT possible
- Non-defining relative clauses are rarely reduced in formal writing.
- When the relative pronoun is the object of the clause: The book (that) I read was excellent — no participle possible.
Tip: Ask: is the noun doing the action (active → -ing) or receiving it (passive → -ed/past participle)? That determines which participle to use.