Contact clauses – no relative pronouns
When can relative pronouns be left out?
We leave out the relative pronoun (who/which/that) if it is not the subject in the sentence.
► If there is a verb after the relative pronoun who/which/that, do not leave out the relative pronoun.
Examples with the relative pronoun who
| 1st part of the sentence | 2nd part of the sentence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This | is | the girl | who | was | at the party last night. |
| Subject | Verb | Rest | Subject | Verb | Rest |
who is the subject in the sentence, do not leave it out.
| 1st part of the sentence | Pronoun | 2nd part of the sentence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This | is | the girl | who | I | will | marry. |
| This | is | the girl | can be left out | I | will | marry. |
| Subject | Verb | Rest | Subject | Verb | Rest | |
who is not the subject in the sentence, so it can be left out.
Examples with the relative pronoun which/that
| 1st part of the sentence | 2nd part of the sentence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This | is | the house | which | was | sold. |
| Subject | Verb | Rest | Subject | Verb | Rest |
which is the subject in the sentence, do not leave it out.
| 1st part of the sentence | Pronoun | 2nd part of the sentence | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This | is | the house | which | I | bought | last week. | |
| This | is | the house | can be left out | I | bought | last week. | |
| Subject | Verb | Rest | Subject | Verb | Rest | ||
which is not the subject in the sentence, it can be left out.