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An active relative clause can sometimes become an -ing phrase; a passive clause can sometimes become a past-participle phrase. Reduction must preserve the intended meaning and attachment. Not every relative clause can be reduced mechanically.
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Students waiting outside can come in. | Waiting outside describes students who are waiting outside. |
| Passive | The notes written yesterday are on the desk. | Written yesterday describes notes that were written yesterday. |
| Check the meaning | The student who won last year is here. | Changing this to winning would lose the completed past meaning. |
Check: The notes writing yesterday
Use: The notes written yesterday
The notes receive the action, so the passive past-participle form is needed.
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
People waiting. An active ongoing description can use an -ing phrase.
The report written yesterday. The report receives the action, so use the passive participle written.
A woman who is carrying it. The woman is the agent of carrying.
The forms submitted online. Forms are submitted; the passive participle is submitted.
Anyone who wishes to join. Wishing gives an active description of anyone.
the students waiting outside. An active continuous relative clause can reduce to an -ing phrase.
the report written yesterday. A passive relative clause can reduce to a past-participle phrase.
the items stored upstairs. Stored describes items that someone has stored; the other -ing phrases describe active doers.
anyone wanting to join. Wanting preserves the active meaning; wanted would change the structure and meaning.
the bridge built in 1900. Built is the past participle and preserves the passive meaning.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
sitting outside
The people who are sitting outside → the people sitting outside
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
sent yesterday
The letter that was sent yesterday → the letter sent yesterday
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
taking the exam
The students who are taking the exam → the students taking the exam
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
repaired last month
The road that was repaired last month → the road repaired last month
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
wishing to join
Anyone who wishes to join → anyone wishing to join
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
left here
The bags that were left here → the bags left here
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
carrying the box
The man who is carrying the box → the man carrying the box
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
prepared earlier
The food that was prepared earlier → the food prepared earlier
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
playing in the garden
The children who are playing in the garden → the children playing in the garden
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
stored online
The documents that are stored online → the documents stored online
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
approaching the station
The train that is approaching the station → the train approaching the station
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
written in pencil
The message that was written in pencil → the message written in pencil
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
staying overnight
The guests who are staying overnight → the guests staying overnight
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
collected for charity
The money that was collected for charity → the money collected for charity
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
speaking on stage
The woman who is speaking on stage → the woman speaking on stage
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
reserved for us
The tables that were reserved for us → the tables reserved for us
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
repairing the roof
The workers who are repairing the roof → the workers repairing the roof
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
painted by Ana
The picture that was painted by Ana → the picture painted by Ana
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
waiting to pay
The customers who are waiting to pay → the customers waiting to pay
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
damaged in transit
The items that were damaged in transit → the items damaged in transit
Active clauses can often reduce to -ing phrases; passive clauses can often reduce to past-participle phrases. Preserve the meaning and time relationship.
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
Your wording can vary.
Use who are waiting, then waiting.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use that was repaired, then repaired.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
The -ing phrase is active; the past participle is passive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use studying while preserving who performs the activity.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Keep yesterday with the past-participle phrase.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Choose a suitable be form and preserve the intended time.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Restore a suitable relative pronoun and passive be form.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Waited suggests a different structure; waiting preserves this active continuous meaning.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Make it clear that the noun receives the action.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Do not drop important tense, modal or other meaning merely to shorten the sentence.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
Repair the passive description: The forms signing yesterday are ready.
The forms signed yesterday are ready. The forms received the action, so use the past participle signed.
Shorten this description without changing its meaning: People who are waiting outside may enter.
People waiting outside may enter. Waiting preserves the active description of people currently in the queue.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
Identify exactly which person or thing you mean.
Choose the time you have. These are suggested study plans, not timers.
Answer the ten-question quiz. Read the explanation for each mistake before trying again.
Take the scored quiz →30 MINComplete the warm-up, then sets 2 and 3. Compare your answers and correct the patterns you missed.
Open sentence practice →60 MINWork through all four sets. Spend the final part writing, comparing and improving your own sentences.
Explore all four sets →Open the question that matches where you got stuck.
For a suitable active description, use an -ing phrase: “people who are queuing” becomes “people queuing.” For a suitable passive description, use a past participle: “forms that were signed yesterday” becomes “forms signed yesterday.” Check that the meaning is preserved.
No. A mechanical rewrite can lose time or meaning. “The person who won yesterday” is not normally equivalent to “the person winning yesterday.” Keep the full clause when the reduced phrase makes the relationship unclear.
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