Reduced Relative Clauses — Active vs Passive (C1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The man the piano on stage is a world-famous composer. (play)

Correct answer: playing

The man plays the piano (active), so the present participle "playing" reduces "who is playing". The past participle "played" would be passive and would wrongly mean the man is played.

The piece of music at the concert was over a century old. (play)

Correct answer: played

The music receives the action — it is played by the musicians (passive) — so the past participle "played" reduces "which was played". Compare Q1, where the man actively played, taking "playing".

Drivers in this zone without a permit will be fined. (park)

Correct answer: parking

The drivers do the parking (active), so the present participle "parking" reduces "who park". The past participle "parked" would be passive (the drivers are not parked).

Cars in this zone without a permit will be towed away. (park)

Correct answer: parked

The cars receive the action — they are parked by drivers (passive) — so the past participle "parked" reduces "which are parked". Contrast Q3, where the drivers actively parked, taking "parking".

The professor the keynote lecture has written several books. (give)

Correct answer: giving

The professor gives the lecture (active), so the present participle "giving" reduces "who is giving". The past participle "given" would be passive (the professor is not given).

The keynote lecture by the professor drew a record crowd. (give)

Correct answer: given

The lecture receives the action — it is given by the professor (passive) — so the irregular past participle "given" reduces "which was given". Contrast Q5, where the professor actively gave, taking "giving".

Anyone to the seminar late should enter quietly. (arrive)

Correct answer: arriving

The person arrives (active, intransitive), so the present participle "arriving" reduces "who arrives". A past participle cannot reduce an active intransitive clause like this.

Files as confidential must be stored in the secure cabinet. (mark)

Correct answer: marked

The files receive the action — they are marked by staff (passive) — so the past participle "marked" reduces "which are marked". The -ing form "marking" would wrongly make the files active.

The river through the old town floods almost every spring. (flow)

Correct answer: flowing

The river flows (active, intransitive), so the present participle "flowing" reduces "which flows". A past participle is impossible because "flow" has no passive here.

The bridge across the gorge in 1890 is still in use today. (build)

Correct answer: built

The bridge receives the action — it was built by engineers (passive) — so the irregular past participle "built" reduces "which was built". The -ing form "building" would wrongly make the bridge the builder.

Students for the final exam may book a study room. (revise)

Correct answer: revising

The students revise (active), so the present participle "revising" reduces "who are revising". The past participle "revised" would be passive (the students are not revised).

The results at the press conference surprised the whole industry. (announce)

Correct answer: announced

The results receive the action — they are announced by the company (passive) — so the past participle "announced" reduces "which were announced". The -ing form "announcing" would wrongly make the results the announcer.

A start-up at thirty per cent a year needs careful management. (grow)

Correct answer: growing

The start-up grows (active, intransitive), so the present participle "growing" reduces "which is growing". A past participle is impossible because "grow" has no passive here.

Products in this factory are exported to over sixty countries. (make)

Correct answer: made

The products receive the action — they are made by workers (passive) — so the irregular past participle "made" reduces "which are made". The -ing form "making" would wrongly make the products the maker.

The decision by the board last night cannot now be reversed. (take)

Correct answer: taken

The decision receives the action — it is taken by the board (passive) — so the irregular past participle "taken" reduces "which was taken". The -ing form "taking" would wrongly make the decision the agent; "took" is the finite past, not a participle.

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