Is This the Clause Which I Want?

34. Is This The Clause Which I Need? (Or "Do I Need This Clause?")

Relative clauses are dependent thoughts which are inserted inside a main sentence and usually begin with "which," "that" or "who."

• "The shaduf was an ancient tool which enabled dry farming."
• "The evidence that he produced at the last moment saved him from execution."
• "Those Hebrews who fled survived the Assyrian assault."

Relative clauses modifies a noun by specifying some characteristic of it. They clarify which of a group the sentence refers to or add important information about the noun. While those qualifications are often essential to the thought of a sentence, you should always ask if a relative clause is the best way of expressing them. Sometimes it's better not to include this type of construction because relatives can be bulky and unwieldy. An adjective or participle is often a better choice because it employs fewer words and expresses the thought more directly.

• Bad Example: "The shaduf was an ancient tool which enabled dry farming."
• Good Example: "An ancient tool called a shaduf enabled dry farming."

Here, the removal of the relative clause entailed putting its verb ("enabled") into the main sentence and turning the original main verb into a participle ("called"). The result is a simpler, more direct statement.

There are several ways to avoid a clunky relative clause. One is to use two main verbs:

• Bad Example: "Those Hebrews who fled survived the Assyrian assault."
• Good Example: "Some Hebrews fled and survived the Assyrian assault."

Another is to turn the relative clause into a sequence of nouns:

• Bad Example: "The evidence that he produced at the last moment saved him from execution."
• Good Example: "The production of evidence at the last moment saved him from execution."

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Relative clauses are dependent thoughts which are inserted inside a main sentence and usually begin with "which," "that" or "who."
	• "The shaduf was an ancient tool which enabled dry farming." • "The evidence that he produced at the last moment saved him from execution." • "Those Hebrews who fled survived the Assyrian assault."

Relative clauses modifies a noun by specifying some characteristic of it. They clarify which of a group the sentence refers to or add important information about the noun. While those qualifications are often essential to the thought of a sentence, you should always ask if a relative clause is the best way of expressing them. Sometimes it's better not to include this type of construction because relatives can be bulky and unwieldy. An adjective or participle is often a better choice because it employs fewer words and expresses the thought more directly.
	• Bad Example: "The shaduf was an ancient tool which enabled dry farming." • Good Example: "An ancient tool called a shaduf enabled dry farming."
Here, the removal of the relative clause entailed putting its verb ("enabled") into the main sentence and turning the original main verb into a participle ("called"). The result is a simpler, more direct statement.

There are several ways to avoid a clunky relative clause. One is to use two main verbs:
	• Bad Example: "Those Hebrews who fled survived the Assyrian assault." • Good Example: "Some Hebrews fled and survived the Assyrian assault."

Another is to turn the relative clause into a sequence of nouns:
	• Bad Example: "The evidence that he produced at the last moment saved him from execution." • Good Example: "The production of evidence at the last moment saved him from execution."