REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES: RULES, EXAMPLES, AND EXAM TIPS

Reduced relative clauses are an important grammar concept used to shorten sentences without changing their meaning. They are widely tested in competitive exams and improve writing clarity. Understanding how reduced relative clauses work helps students write concise sentences and quickly identify correct options in objective questions.

Introduction to Reduced Relative Clauses

Reduced relative clauses are a shortened form of relative clauses commonly used in English grammar. Reduced relative clauses help remove unnecessary words while keeping the meaning clear. This topic is frequently asked in competitive examinations such as SSC, UPSC, Banking, IELTS, TOEFL, and other English proficiency tests.

WHAT ARE REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES

Reduced relative clauses are formed by shortening relative clauses that begin with who, which, that, or where. They usually remove the relative pronoun and sometimes the helping verb. These clauses make sentences more direct and grammatically efficient.

RULES FOR REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES

1. Reduced relative clauses are used only in defining relative clauses.
2. The relative pronoun is removed first.
3. The verb is changed to a present participle (verb + ing) or past participle (verb + ed or third form).
4. If the verb is in passive voice, the past participle is used.
5. Reduced relative clauses cannot be formed when the clause refers to possession using whose.

100 EXAMPLES OF REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES

1. The man talking to the teacher is my uncle.
2. The book written by him became popular.
3. Students preparing for exams need discipline.
4. The girl standing near the door is my sister.
5. Cars parked here will be towed.
6. The movie released last week was a hit.
7. People living in cities face pollution.
8. The cake baked yesterday tastes good.
9. The boy injured in the accident recovered.
10. The letter sent by her arrived late.
11. Employees working overtime will be paid extra.
12. The house built in 1990 is still strong.
13. The teacher explaining the lesson is strict.
14. The report submitted yesterday was approved.
15. Children playing outside are noisy.
16. The documents required for admission are listed.
17. The girl selected for the team is happy.
18. Passengers waiting for the bus were tired.
19. The car damaged in the flood was repaired.
20. The man arrested by police was innocent.
21. Students scoring high marks get scholarships.
22. The song sung by her went viral.
23. People affected by the cyclone need help.
24. The phone bought online stopped working.
25. The woman sitting alone looked worried.
26. Books kept on the table are mine.
27. The painting displayed in the gallery is old.
28. The boy punished by the teacher apologized.
29. The file missing from the desk was found.
30. The athlete running fastest won the race.
31. The rules followed by everyone ensure safety.
32. The watch stolen yesterday was recovered.
33. The team playing well deserves praise.
34. The road damaged by rain is closed.
35. The girl wearing a red dress is my cousin.
36. The proposal accepted by the board starts soon.
37. The building under construction looks modern.
38. The students selected will attend training.
39. The house surrounded by trees is beautiful.
40. The man speaking on stage is famous.
41. The job offered by the company pays well.
42. The child crying loudly needed attention.
43. The letter written carefully was clear.
44. The crowd gathered outside caused traffic.
45. The device manufactured locally is affordable.
46. The boy caught cheating was suspended.
47. The water stored in the tank is clean.
48. The girl preparing notes is diligent.
49. The match played yesterday ended in a draw.
50. The shoes worn by him are new.
51. The teacher respected by students retired.
52. The people evacuated safely returned home.
53. The train arriving late caused inconvenience.
54. The project completed on time was praised.
55. The woman injured badly was hospitalized.
56. The cake decorated beautifully impressed everyone.
57. The message sent earlier was misunderstood.
58. The workers protesting outside demanded justice.
59. The laptop repaired yesterday works fine.
60. The doctor treating patients is experienced.
61. The car driven carelessly met with an accident.
62. The documents verified by officials were accepted.
63. The students participating actively learned more.
64. The bridge damaged severely was closed.
65. The child adopted recently is happy.
66. The news reported today shocked everyone.
67. The team selected carefully performed well.
68. The goods delivered late caused loss.
69. The girl chosen as leader thanked everyone.
70. The speech delivered confidently impressed judges.
71. The books borrowed from the library are overdue.
72. The boy promoted recently worked hard.
73. The hall decorated for the event looked grand.
74. The woman interviewed yesterday got the job.
75. The files arranged neatly saved time.
76. The bus overloaded with passengers broke down.
77. The decision taken unanimously was final.
78. The song played repeatedly became annoying.
79. The machine operated incorrectly stopped working.
80. The students guided properly succeeded.
81. The article published online went viral.
82. The village affected badly needs aid.
83. The clothes washed carefully dried quickly.
84. The boy praised publicly felt proud.
85. The work completed efficiently saved money.
86. The officer transferred recently joined duty.
87. The lesson taught clearly was easy.
88. The fruits stored properly stayed fresh.
89. The message displayed on screen was clear.
90. The crowd cheering loudly encouraged players.
91. The candidate selected finally joined service.
92. The land acquired legally was compensated.
93. The students trained professionally excelled.
94. The house painted recently looks new.
95. The exam conducted smoothly ended on time.
96. The teacher guiding students is helpful.
97. The rules implemented strictly improved discipline.
98. The phone charged fully lasted longer.
99. The project approved officially began soon.
100. The road repaired properly reduced accidents.

IMPORTANT EXAM TIPS ON REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES

1. Always check whether the clause is active or passive before reducing.
2. Do not reduce clauses containing whose.
3. Reduced relative clauses are common in sentence improvement questions.
4. Watch for tense consistency after reduction.
5. In objective exams, incorrect reduction is often used as a trap option.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on Reduced Relative Clauses

FAQ 1: What are reduced relative clauses used for
Reduced relative clauses are used to shorten sentences while maintaining clarity and grammatical correctness.

FAQ 2: Can all relative clauses be reduced
No. Only defining relative clauses without whose can be reduced safely.

FAQ 3: Are reduced relative clauses important for competitive exams
Yes. Reduced relative clauses frequently appear in grammar correction, sentence improvement, and error detection questions.

CONCLUSION on Reduced Relative Clauses

Reduced relative clauses play a vital role in English grammar by making sentences concise and effective. Mastering reduced relative clauses improves writing skills and boosts performance in competitive examinations. Regular practice of reduced relative clauses helps students avoid common grammatical errors.

DISCLAIMER

This article is intended for educational purposes only. The examples and explanations are designed to support learning and exam preparation.

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