defining relative clause without a relative pronoun

A defining relative clause is a clause that gives essential information about the noun it modifies. Sometimes, you can omit the relative pronoun (who, which, that, etc.) if it is the object of the clause.

In the English Grammar Profile, A2 Point 36 in CLAUSES/relative is defined as:

defining relative clause, without a relative pronoun


This is a hard structure to locate in corpora.  We can start by searching in iWeb for:

_NN _PP _VV

1 TIME IT TAKES 41863

‘taking time’ is A2 in the English Vocabulary Profile.  So we believe being able to use this sense with a relative clause must at least be B1. especially when followed with an infinitive of purpose.

You don’t risk the time it takes to do this.

listen


2 INFORMATION YOU NEED

PELIC student examples:

Every system, such as ticketing, baggage checking, hotel booking and schedule changing is controlled by computers, 

and you can get information you need at nearby computers.

Korean, Male, level 5, writing class

*our grammar gets hidden by B1 grammar


3 WAY YOU WANT

The right of being able to choose the way you want to think is being violated in the internet censorship.

Arabic, Male, level 5, writing class


4 THING YOU NEED 24150
5 THINGS YOU NEED 24135
6 THING YOU WANT 23061
7 INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE 18160
8 PEOPLE I KNOW 15649
9 TIME I SAW 15101
10 INFORMATION THEY NEED 15034
11 TIME YOU WANT 14161
12 TIME YOU GET 14050
13 TIME I GOT 13628
14 TOOLS YOU NEED 13617
15 TIME YOU NEED 13510

16 INFORMATION WE COLLECT

  ACS
When people downloaded Onavo Protect,
and how it is used.,” the spokesperson said.
16 Dec 2020
*Our grammar is hidden under B1 grammar.

17 TIME YOU SPEND 11558
18 WORLD WE LIVE 11207
19 TIME I SEE 10937
20 THING I WANT 10753
21 THING I NOTICED 10475
22 TIME YOU USE 10187
23 TIME I WENT 10164
24 TIME I GET 9961
25 TOOLS THEY NEED 9956
26 WAY I SEE 9939

The way I see it,

 you got two choices here.

listen

The phrase “the way I see it” is often used as a way to express one’s personal opinion or perspective on a particular topic. It’s a way of saying “from my point of view” or “according to my understanding.”

27 TIME I GO 9821
28 THINGS YOU WANT 9150
29 TIME IT TOOK 8846
30 SKILLS THEY NEED 8826
31 TIME I TRIED 8746
32 TIME YOU GO 8559
33 TIME YOU SEE 8381
34 TIME I USED 8127
35 COMMUNITIES WE SERVE 8050
36 SKILLS YOU NEED 8017
37 WAY IT WORKS 7974

I don’t know.
Maybe it wouldn’t happen

but that‘s the way it works.

listen

In the phrase “the way that it works,” “that” is a relative pronoun introducing the defining relative clause “it works,” which describes the noun “way.” In English, the relative pronoun can be omitted when it’s the object of the verb, making “the way it works” equally correct and common.

While “the way in which it works” is more formal and often used in written English or formal speech, “the way that it works” is less formal and commonly used in everyday speech. However, in informal contexts, it’s typical to omit the relative pronoun altogether, making “the way it works” a prevalent usage.

38 THING YOU KNOW 7818
39 THINGS I LOVE 7553
40 WAY YOU LIKE 7280
41 WAY YOU LOOK 7174
42 PEOPLE YOU KNOW 7012
43 THING I KNOW 6816 C2 

The next thing I know 

she‘s sitting right there next to me.

listen

44 THINGS I WANT 6708
45 WAY YOU THINK 6653
46 TIME YOU MAKE 6477
47 TIME YOU VISIT 6259
48 TIME I CHECKED 6255
49 SUPPORT THEY NEED 6168
50 WAY WE THINK 6125
51 TIME I THINK 6065
52 THING I LIKE 6017
53 THING WE NEED 5817
54 WAY I WANT 5766
55 TIME WE GOT 5722
56 RESOURCES THEY NEED 5682
57 PRICE YOU PAY 5572
58 TIME I HEARD 5488
59 SERVICES WE PROVIDE 5456
60 TIME I TRY 5329
61 THING I LOVE 5301
62 THINGS I LIKE 5233
63 TIME I MADE 5200
64 WAY I KNOW 5095
65 TIME YOU TAKE 5014
66 WAY IT LOOKS 5009
67 SERVICES WE OFFER 4990
68 RESULTS YOU WANT 4967
69 INFORMATION YOU WANT 4865
70 WAY WE LIVE 4831
71 DATA YOU NEED 4801
72 TIME I READ 4762
73 SUPPORT YOU NEED 4697
74 TIME WE GET 4681
75 HELP THEY NEED 4657
76 WAY I THINK 4656
77 TIME I THOUGHT 4647
78 TIME YOU OPEN 4574
79 TIME YOU START 4572
80 WAY THEY WANT 4533
81 TIME I WANT 4522
82 ITEMS YOU WANT 4440
83 THING I THINK 4415
84 FOOD WE EAT 4357
85 HELP YOU NEED 4349
86 TIME I USE 4340
87 DAY I GOT 4316
88 REASON I ASK 4313
89 THINGS I LEARNED 4294
90 THING I WANTED 4286
91 WAY I LOOK 4225
92 RESOURCES YOU NEED 4218
93 FOOD YOU EAT 4205
94 THING I LEARNED 4184
95 WAY YOU GET 4137
96 THINGS YOU LOVE 4091
97 CARE THEY NEED 4057
98 WAY I LIKE 4050
99 STEPS YOU NEED 4037
100 TIME I TOOK 4033

A2 vocabulary in the above:

care, checked, collect, information, offer, price, reason, serve, spend, tried, try, way

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