The Process of Reduction

Lesson 27By Joseph C. Blumenthal

The employee must state the reason why he was absent. (prepositional phrase)

1. The employee must state the reason for his absence.(for being absent)

The article offers many suggestions that are practical. (adjective)

2. The article offers many practical suggestions.

People who are irritable do not make good clerks. (adjective)

3. Irritable people do not make good clerks.

These toys were made of materials which have been discarded. (past participle)

4. These toys were made of discarded materials.

I was kept awake by the faucet that was dripping. (present participle)

5. I was kept awake by the dripping faucet.

Dr. Rosalyn Yalow, who was the winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, is a renowned physicist. (appositive phrase)

6. Dr. Rosalyn Yalow, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, is a renowned physicist.

Steve’s General Store, which is the only store in the village, sells everything from lollipops to washing machines. (appositive phrase)

7. Steve’s General Store, the only store in the village, sells everything from lollipops to washing machines.

After he had saved all this money, Jones lost it. (prepositional phrase with gerund)

8. After saving all this money, Jones lost it.

If you will make notes of important facts, you will make reviewing easier. (prepositional phrase with gerund)

9. By making notes of important facts, you will make reviewing easier.

There seemed to be no way in which we could reduce our expenses. (prepositional phrase with gerund)

10. There seemed to be no way of reducing our expenses.

Unfortunately, the family has never been fully responsible in financial matters. (adverb)

11. Unfortunately, the family has never been fully responsible financially.

Some children have unusual talent in music. (adjective)

12. Some children have unusual musical talent.

Mr. Hollis listens in a patient way to all complaints. (adverb)

13. Mr. Hollis listens patiently to all complaints.

Remember not to leave things such as mops and pails on the stairs to the basement. (adjective)

14. Remember not to leave things such as mops and pails on the basement stairs.

a. There are curtains in the kitchen. They need washing.

b. The curtains that are in the kitchen need washing.

c. The curtains hanging in the kitchen need washing.

d. The curtains in the kitchen need washing.

e. The kitchen curtains need washing.15. Which sentence states the idea

in the fewest words?

a. There are curtains in the kitchen. They need washing.

b. The curtains that are in the kitchen need washing.

c. The curtains hanging in the kitchen need washing.

d. The curtains in the kitchen need washing.

e. The kitchen curtains need washing.

16. These sentences illustrate the process of reduction.

Please put the number RIGHT

over 16.