Reduced Adjective Clauses
• Adjective clauses that begin with the subject pronouns who, which or that can sometimes be reduced to phrases. This is only possible in the following cases:
1. When the main verb BE is followed by a PP (prepositional phrase) or an adjective + PP, the relative pronoun and BE can be omitted. BE + PP The nurse [ who is at the reception desk ] speaks Arabic well. The nurse at the reception desk speaks Arabic well. The paintings [ which were in the art gallery last month ] were beautiful. The paintings in the art gallery last month were beautiful. The shoes [ that are beside the door ] are mine. The shoes beside the door are mine.
BE + Adjective + PP He is the man [ who is guilty of the crime ]. He is the man guilty of the crime. I have books [ which are full of good grammar exercises ]. I have books full of good grammar exercises. You must check with the agent [ that is responsible for your ticket ]. You must check with the agent responsible for your ticket.
*If the adjective clause contains only BE + Adj, then the adjective moves to its normal position in front of the noun it modifies. Milk [ that is sour ] can upset your stomach. = Sour milk can upset your stomach. Patients [ who are elderly ] need to receive their flu shots. Elderly patients need to receive their flu shots. Saudi Arabia has many snakes [ which are poisonous ]. Saudi Arabia has many poisonous snakes.
2. When the helping verb BE occurs in the present progressive or past progressive, the relative pronoun and BE can be omitted. Mohsen is the student [ who is sitting beside Turki ]. Mohsen is the student sitting beside Turki. Khalid was on the plane [ which was departing for Beirut ]. Khalid was on the plane departing for Beirut The music [ that is playing on the radio right now ] is Egyptian. The music playing on the radio right now is Egyptian.
3. When the helping verb BE occurs in a passive tense, the relative pronoun and BE can be omitted. Computers [ which are assembled in Japan ] work well. Computers assembled in Japan work well. The packages [ that were delivered yesterday ] were heavy. The packages delivered yesterday were heavy. Nadia is the woman [ who is married to Omar ]. Nadia is the woman married to Omar.
4. Sometimes verbs in the simple present or simple past (other than main verb BE) can be changed to the –ing form and the relative pronoun omitted. You should avoid food [ that contains high amounts of fat and sugar ]. You should avoid food containing high amounts of fat and sugar. We received a package [ which weighed over 100 kg ]. We received a package weighing over 100 kg ].
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