Reducing Adjective Clauses to Adjective Phrases: Learn English Grammar with JenniferESL

Summary

In this video, Jennifer explores what makes an ideal job, asking viewers to consider factors like money, recognition, passion, and personal growth. She uses the example of her brother, a former professional hockey player now coaching young athletes, to illustrate the value of doing what you love. The lesson then focuses on reducing adjective clauses to adjective phrases, explaining when and how this grammatical shift works. Jennifer encourages viewers to practice these skills by identifying and reducing adjective clauses in sentences about their ideal job. The video offers both instruction and interactive practice to improve grammar and writing clarity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Adjective phrases are reduced adjective clauses, where the relative pronoun (who, that, which) is removed, and sometimes the verb 'be' is also omitted.
• 😀 An adjective clause has a subject and a verb, while an adjective phrase is just a noun phrase or a participle without a subject or verb.
• 😀 To reduce an adjective clause, you can remove the relative pronoun and any form of the verb 'be'.
• 😀 The relative pronoun in the adjective clause must be the subject for it to be reduced.
• 😀 A reduced adjective clause can sometimes become a noun phrase, a prepositional phrase, or a present or past participle.
• 😀 The use of commas is important when identifying adjective clauses—commas often set them off in the sentence.
• 😀 Not all adjective clauses can be reduced. If the relative pronoun is not the subject, you can't reduce the clause.
• 😀 Reducing adjective clauses makes sentences more concise, especially in writing.
• 😀 When reducing adjective clauses, sometimes word order changes (e.g., placing the adjective before the noun).
• 😀 Reduced adjective clauses are more commonly used in formal writing than in spoken language, especially in non-restrictive clauses.
• 😀 The video challenges viewers to practice reducing adjective clauses and share examples of their ideal jobs using reduced clauses.

Q & A

What is the main topic of this grammar lesson?

The main topic of this lesson is how to reduce adjective clauses into adjective phrases, focusing on when and how this can be done.

What is the key difference between an adjective clause and an adjective phrase?

An adjective clause contains both a subject and a verb, whereas an adjective phrase is a shortened form of an adjective clause that omits the relative pronoun and any form of the verb 'be'.

When can you reduce an adjective clause to an adjective phrase?

You can reduce an adjective clause to an adjective phrase when the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause, and when the clause contains a form of the verb 'be' or can be converted to a participle.

What should you do when reducing an adjective clause with the relative pronoun 'who'?

When reducing an adjective clause with the relative pronoun 'who', you remove 'who' and any form of the verb 'be', then convert the main verb to its present participle form if necessary.

Give an example of reducing an adjective clause that uses the relative pronoun 'that'.

Example: 'The book that is on the table is mine' can be reduced to 'The book on the table is mine'.

What happens if there is no verb 'be' in an adjective clause?

If there is no verb 'be' in an adjective clause, you change the main verb to its present participle form (e.g., 'working' or 'having') when reducing the clause.

Can all adjective clauses be reduced to adjective phrases?

No, not all adjective clauses can be reduced. If the relative pronoun is not the subject of the clause, or if reducing the clause would make the sentence unclear, the clause should not be reduced.

What is an example of a non-restrictive adjective clause that shouldn’t be reduced?

Example: 'My brother, who is an excellent skater, loves hockey.' The clause is non-restrictive, set off by commas, and should remain as is for clarity.

How does the use of commas affect adjective clauses?

Commas indicate a non-restrictive adjective clause, which provides additional information but doesn't change the meaning of the sentence. These clauses should not be reduced.

What is the importance of reducing adjective clauses in writing?

Reducing adjective clauses can make writing more concise, clearer, and more efficient, especially when you want to avoid repetitive language or excessive detail.