This practice will help you learn how to reduce an adjective clause to an
adjective phrase.
There are 7 kinds of reduced adjective clauses, as shown in the chart below.
If you choose a wrong answer, you'll see an
explanation to help you learn from your mistake.
TYPES
EXAMPLES
1. be + __ing
The man [who is sitting
next to you] is my cousin.
REDUCED:
The man sitting next to you
is...
2. appositive
Pambos Polycarpou, [who
is the president of Spring International], has an office in
Littleton.
REDUCED:
Pambos Polycarpou, the president of
Spring International, has...
3. simple tense verb
The criminal [who robbed
the bank last night] got $1 million dollars.
REDUCED:
The criminal robbing the bank last
night got...
4. passive verb
Hamlet, [which was
written by William Shakespeare], is the most famous English play.
REDUCED:
Hamlet, written by William
Shakespeare, is...
5. perfect tenses, active
The author, [who has
already written 10 books], is already working on number 11.
REDUCED:
The author, having already written
10 books, is...
6. adjective phrase
Mary, [who is happy with
her decision to attend UCD], is doing very well there.
REDUCED:
Mary, happy with her decision to
attend UCD, is...
7. prepositional phrase
The runner [who is in the
lead at the Denver Marathon] won an Olympic gold medal last year.
REDUCED:
The runner in the lead at the
Denver Marathon won...
NOTE: The dashes
--- in the questions below are just to show you the original adjective
clause that you need to reduce.
The number in brackets [5] tells you which type of reducing it is (see
above).
The woman --- who is waiting for the train --- over there is my boss. [TYPE 1]
who waiting for the train
who waits for the train
waiting for the train
Secretariat, --- who was at the back of the pack at the start of the race, --- won the Kentucky Derby easily at the end. [7]
being at the back of the pack at the start of the race,
who at the back of the pack at the start of the race,
at the back of the pack at the start of the race,
The Golden Gate Bridge, --- which was finished in 1937, --- is one of the most famous in the world. [4]
being finished in 1937,
which finished in 1937,
finished in 1937,
Fran, --- who is my oldest sister, --- works for Sony Corporation in Japan. [2]
being my oldest sister,
who my oldest sister,
my oldest sister,
Apple, --- which has created a number of successful products, --- is thinking about selling a smart watch in 2014. [5]
having created a number of successful products,
has created a number of successful products,
creating a number of successful products,
The dictionary --- that is sitting on the table --- is mine. [1]
that sits on the table
that sitting on the table
sitting on the table
Mrs. Lawrence, --- who is worried about her sick daughter, --- can’t concentrate at work today. [6]
worried about her sick daughter,
worrying about her sick daughter,
having worried about her sick daughter,
George Washington, --- who was the first President of the U.S., --- was a general in the army before he became President. [2]
the first President of the U.S.,
who the first President of the U.S.,
was the first President of the U.S.,
Japanese is a written language --- that consists of 3 types of writing, --- kanji, hiragana, and katakana. [3]
which consists of 3 types of writing,
consists of 3 types of writing,
consisting of 3 types of writing,
The house --- which is behind ours --- burned down last week. [7]
behind ours
being behind ours
behinding ours
Abraham Lincoln, --- who had lost 8 elections before, --- eventually became President of the U.S. the first time he tried. [5]
had lost 8 elections before,
losing 8 elections before,
having lost 8 elections before,
None of us were impressed by the politician --- who gave the speech last night --- at the convention. [3]
giving the speech last night
having given the speech last night
that gave the speech last night
The rich woman, --- who was tired of losing her keys, --- decided to hire an assistant to carry them around for her. [6]
tiring of losing her keys,
having tired of losing her keys,
tired of losing her keys,
The Grand Canyon, --- which is located in the southwestern United States, --- is the largest canyon in the world but not the deepest. [4]
