When can a relative pronoun be left out?

1 · Learn

A relative clause gives information about a noun. In 'The book that I borrowed is on the desk', that I borrowed identifies the book. I is the subject doing the borrowing; that stands for the book being borrowed. We can also say 'The book I borrowed is on the desk'. The relative pronoun that is omitted, but the meaning remains clear.

Do not remove a relative pronoun just because a shorter sentence looks easier. In 'The pupil who borrowed the book returned it', who is the subject doing the borrowing inside the relative clause. Removing who gives 'The pupil borrowed the book returned it', which does not work. Keep pronouns in extra-information clauses marked by commas, too: 'Asha, who borrowed the book, returned it.'

2 · Worked example

'The picture which we painted is drying' can become 'The picture we painted is drying'. We is already the subject of painted, and which represents the picture, its object. In 'The picture which hangs here is mine', which is the subject of hangs, so I keep it.

3 · Your turn

Can you omit that from 'The game that we chose was fun'? Write the result. Can you omit who from 'The child who won the game smiled'? Explain.

4 · Apply your learning

Write one pair of identifying relative clauses, with and without an object relative pronoun. Read both aloud and mark the subject inside each clause. Then write a subject-relative example where the pronoun must remain.