Reduced Clauses in English
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
Reduced clauses are simplified forms of full clauses, often used to make sentences more concise and fluent. In English, we can reduce certain dependent (subordinate) clauses by removing the subject and/or auxiliary verb, especially when the subject of the main clause and the subordinate clause is the same.
They are most common in adverbial clauses, relative clauses, and sometimes noun clauses. Mastering reduced clauses improves fluency, especially in writing and formal communication.
Why Use Reduced Clauses?
To avoid repetition
To make sentences shorter and more elegant
To improve cohesion and clarity in writing
Types of Reduced Clauses
1. Reduced Adverbial Clauses:
These are subordinate clauses that express time, reason, condition, contrast, or result, and can often be reduced if the subject matches the main clause.
a) Time – using “after,” “before,” “while,” “when,” “since,” “once,” etc.
Full clause:
After she finished her homework, she went to bed.
Depois que ele terminou a lição de casa dela, ela foi dormir.
Reduced clause:
After finishing her homework, she went to bed.
Depois de terminar o dever de casa, ela foi dormir.
Full clause:
While I was driving, I saw an accident.
Enquanto eu estava dirigindo, eu vi um acidente.
Reduced clause:
While driving, I saw an accident.
Enquanto dirigia, vi um acidente.
b) Reason (Cause) – using “because,” “since,” “as.”
Full clause:
Since she was tired, she left early.
Visto que ela estava cansada, ela saiu cedo.
Reduced clause:
Being tired, she left early.
Por estar cansada, ela saiu cedo.
Full clause:
Because he didn’t know the rules, he made mistakes.
Porque ele não conhecia as regras, ele cometeu erros.
Reduced clause:
Not knowing the rules, he made mistakes.
Por não conhecer as regras, ele cometeu erros.
c) Condition – using “if,” “unless,” “provided that.”
Full clause:
If you are given the opportunity, take it.
Se lhe derem a oportunidade, aproveite.
Reduced clause:
Given the opportunity, take it.
Dado a oportunidade, aproveite-a.
Full clause:
If you study hard, you will pass.
Se você estudar muito, você passará.
Reduced clause:
Studying hard, you will pass.
Estudando bastante, você passará.
d) Contrast / Concession – using “although,” “even though,” “though.”
Full clause:
Although she is young, she’s very mature.
Embora seja jovem, ela é muito madura.
Reduced clause:
Though young, she’s very mature.
Embora jovem, ela é muito madura.
2. Reduced Relative Clauses:
A relative clause gives more information about a noun. When the clause is defining and the relative pronoun is the subject, it can often be reduced.
a) Active voice reduction.
Full clause:
The man who lives next door is a doctor.
O homem que mora ao lado é médico.
Reduced clause:
The man living next door is a doctor.
O homem que mora ao lado é médico.
Full clause:
Students who want to join must register early.
Estudantes que querem participar devem se inscrever cedo.
Reduced clause:
Students wanting to join must register early.
Estudantes que querem participar devem se inscrever cedo.
b) Passive voice reduction.
Full clause:
The books that were published last year are bestsellers.
Os livros publicados no ano passado são best-sellers.
Reduced clause:
The books published last year are bestsellers.
Os livros publicados no ano passado são best-sellers.
Full clause:
The workers who were fired protested yesterday.
Os trabalhadores demitidos protestaram ontem.
Reduced clause:
The workers fired protested yesterday.
Os trabalhadores demitidos protestaram ontem.
3. Reduced Noun Clauses:
These are less common, but sometimes noun clauses can be reduced, especially in reported speech or formal writing, by omitting "that" and simplifying the verb.
Full clause:
He believes that he can succeed.
Ele acredita que pode ter sucesso.
Reduced clause:
He believes he can succeed.
Ele acredita que pode ter sucesso.
Full clause:
I think that studying every day is important.
Acho que estudar todos os dias é importante.
I think studying every day is important.
Acho que estudar todos os dias é importante.
Note: In these examples, the noun clause is not truly reduced structurally, but the omission of "that" is a kind of simplification often included in discussions of reduction.
4. Reduced Infinitive Phrases (Purpose or Result):
Sometimes clauses that express purpose or result are reduced using infinitive phrases.
Full clause:
She studies hard so that she can pass the exam.
Ela estuda muito para que possa passar na prova.
Reduced clause:
She studies hard to pass the exam.
Ela estuda muito para passar.
Full clause:
He left early so that he could catch the train.
Ele saiu cedo para que pudesse pegar o trem.
Reduced clause:
He left early to catch the train.
Ele saiu cedo para pegar o trem.
Advanced Reduced Clauses in English
Advanced reduced clauses go beyond basic reductions. They involve reductions of adverbial and relative clauses in more complex tenses and structures, sometimes with perfect tenses, passive voice, modals, and even embedded conditionals. These reductions require a strong understanding of grammar to maintain the original meaning and clarity.
1. Perfect Participle Reduction:
Used when the action in the reduced clause happened before the action in the main clause. It emphasizes sequence.
Structure:
Having + past participle
Examples:
Having finished her project, she went to sleep.
Tendo terminado seu projeto, ela foi dormir.
Having been warned, they avoided the area. (Passive)
Tendo sido avisados, eles evitaram a área.
Having studied all night, he passed the test easily.
Tendo estudado a noite inteira, ele passou na prova com facilidade.
This structure adds formality and highlights that one action happened before the other.
2. Passive Reductions in Relative Clauses (Advanced Usage):
We reduce relative clauses in the passive voice, especially when describing conditions, processes, or past actions with formal tone.
Full clause:
The documents that were signed yesterday are in the folder.
Os documentos que foram assinados ontem estão na pasta.
Reduced clause:
The documents signed yesterday are in the folder.
Os documentos assinados ontem estão na pasta.
Full clause:
The theory that was proposed by Einstein changed physics.
A teoria que foi proposta por Einstein mudou a física.
Reduced clause:
The theory proposed by Einstein changed physics.
A teoria proposta por Einstein mudou a física.
Full clause:
The students who were chosen will receive scholarships.
Os estudantes que foram escolhidos receberão bolsas de estudo.
Reduced clause:
The students chosen will receive scholarships.
Os alunos escolhidos receberão bolsas de estudo.
3. Reduction with “Being” in Ongoing States (Present Participle in Passive Voice):
This form emphasizes a state or ongoing process, especially in formal descriptions.
Full clause:
The building that is being renovated belongs to the university.
O prédio que está sendo reformado pertence à universidade.
Reduced clause:
The building being renovated belongs to the university.
O prédio que está sendo reformado pertence à universidade.
Full clause:
The book that is being written by the author is a memoir.
O livro que está sendo escrito pelo autor é uma autobiografia.
Reduced clause:
The book being written by the author is a memoir.
O livro que está sendo escrito pelo autor é uma autobiografia.
4. Reduction of Conditional Clauses Using Inversion and Omission of "if":
In more formal English, especially writing, conditionals (type 2 or 3) can be reduced or inverted for style and flow.
Structure:
Had + subject + past participle (instead of "If subject had...")
Full clause:
If she had known the truth, she wouldn’t have lied.
Se ela soubesse a verdade, não teria mentido.
Reduced clause:
Had she known the truth, she wouldn’t have lied.
Se ela soubesse a verdade, não teria mentido.
Full clause:
If we had taken the earlier train, we would have arrived on time.
Se tivéssemos pegado o trem anterior, teríamos chegado na hora.
Reduced clause:
Had we taken the earlier train, we would have arrived on time.
Se tivéssemos pegado o trem anterior, teríamos chegado na hora.
5. Elliptical Constructions with Reduction (Advanced Adverbial Clauses):
In some adverbial clauses, the subject and auxiliary can be omitted entirely when it's the same as in the main clause.
Full clause:
Although she was exhausted, she continued working.
Embora estivesse exausta, ela continuou trabalhando.
Reduced clause:
Exhausted, she continued working.
Exausta, ela continuou trabalhando.
Full clause:
Because he lacked experience, he was not hired.
Porque ele não tinha experiência, não foi contratado.
Reduced clause:
Lacking experience, he was not hired.
Por não ter experiência, ele não foi contratado.
Full clause:
Although the results were surprising, they accepted them.
Embora os resultados fossem surpreendentes, eles os aceitaram.
Reduced clause:
Surprising, the results were accepted.
(Inversion for style)
Surpreendentes, os resultados foram aceitos.
6. Multiple Reductions in a Sentence:
In advanced writing, multiple reductions can happen in a single sentence.
Full clause:
After she had been awarded the prize and had given her speech, she left the stage.
Depois de ter recebido o prêmio e feito seu discurso, ela deixou o palco.
Reduced clause:
Having been awarded the prize and given her speech, she left the stage.
Tendo recebido o prêmio e feito seu discurso, ela deixou o palco.
This type of reduction helps to eliminate repetition and condenses the sentence while keeping clarity.
Final Notes
Reduced clauses help create smoother, more concise sentences. They are particularly useful in academic and professional writing, and they're common in formal spoken English. However, they must be used carefully—especially when reducing relative or adverbial clauses—to ensure that the meaning remains clear and the subject is not confused.
Bibliographic References
Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman.
A classic reference with in-depth analysis of clause structures, including reduced clauses.
Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999). The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher’s Course (2nd ed.). Boston: Heinle & Heinle.
This book offers a practical approach to teaching grammar, including reduced relative and adverbial clauses.
Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman.
This book includes corpus-based descriptions of reduced clauses across spoken and written registers.
Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. K. (2002). The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Highly detailed treatment of English syntax, including reduction mechanisms in subordinate clauses.
Azar, B. S., & Hagen, S. A. (2009). Understanding and Using English Grammar (4th ed.). White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman.
Widely used ESL grammar text that includes accessible explanations and exercises on reduced clauses.
Downing, A., & Locke, P. (2006). English Grammar: A University Course (2nd ed.). Routledge.
While a textbook, this source also includes discussions on clause reduction and its functional uses.
Taglicht, J. (2001). "Clause Union and Clause Reduction in English". English Language and Linguistics, 5(2), 251–290.
This book focuses on syntactic and semantic implications of clause reduction.