The woman sitting by the window: reduced relative clauses
Shorten relative clauses with -ing, a past participle or a to-infinitive
What you'll be able to do
Write compact noun phrases in reports and emails, and read dense professional and academic texts easily.
The idea
A relative clause can often be shortened: drop who / which / that and be, or turn the verb into a participle.
| Full relative clause | Reduced |
|---|---|
| the woman who is sitting by the window | the woman sitting by the window |
| the report which was published yesterday | the report published yesterday |
| anyone who wants to join | anyone wanting to join |
| the first person who arrived | the first person to arrive |
- active meaning → -ing: people living nearby (= who live nearby)
- passive meaning → past participle: the goods ordered last week (= which were ordered)
- after the first, the last, the only, the next → to-infinitive: the last person to leave
- Passengers travelling to Leeds should change at York.-ing: active meaning
- The bridge built in 1890 is still in use.past participle: passive meaning
- She was the only candidate to mention the budget.to-infinitive after the only
- Applications received after Friday will not be considered.passive meaning, formal
Common mistakes
Anyone who wishing to apply…→ Anyone wishing to apply… or Anyone who wishes to apply…The car stealing last night was found.The car didn't steal: The car stolen last night…He was the first person arriving.→ He was the first person to arrive.- For one finished past action, keep the full clause: the man who called yesterday, not
the man calling yesterday.
Practice
- The people _____ next door are very friendly.Options: living · lived · who living
Show the answer
living — Active meaning (who live): -ing.
- Most of the goods _____ online arrive within two days.Options: ordered · ordering · who ordered
Show the answer
ordered — Passive meaning (which are ordered): past participle.
- She was the last person _____ the building.Options: to leave · leaving · left
Show the answer
to leave — After the first, the last or the only: to-infinitive.
- Visitors _____ (park) in the staff area will be fined.
Show the answer
parking — Active meaning (who park): -ing.
- The paintings _____ (steal) from the museum were never found.
Show the answer
stolen — Passive meaning (which were stolen): past participle.
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, then practised with questions you answer by choosing or typing. It comes back for review on later days, until you can use it without help.
More on this topic: Relative clauses: who, which, that, whose