I know the meaning but...!

Question

"Our company has just hired Sarah Poole, formerly with Jay Scott Inc." Can anyone describe grammar of second phrase? I know what is the sentence means, but I need a rule to be confident use such phrases in writing. I would never use this, instead:
"Our company has just hired Sarah Poole whom formerly works with Jay Scott Inc." (I'm not sure formerly must be before works or after it)

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Our company has just hired Sarah Poole, [who was] formerly with Jay Scott, Inc.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, when I can drop "who was"?
I want to know the rule for dropping this type of [subjects+verbs]. Essentially, is it the best way of expressing this sentence? or it is better to keep "who was".

Mister Micawber · Answer

I think it only works with 'be'.  The 'best' way?  Well, omission is generally a more polished writing style.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, but I feel complication will be increased by this omission. I am OK with dropping "that" but in this case I can guess the meaning but it is not familiar with my ears. That brings me a sudden question. If you know computer, my CPU gets busy by looking for the meaning. It's sort of encoding not polishing. I've tried to explain what I'm thinking, and because of that I see it as a omission alone without polishing. Am I clear?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Yes, and I am sorry that you are having trouble with your English.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, but I feel good to know one of my problems. It is the first step! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> When that is solved, I will have lesser problems. Would you help me with this one?Could you at least give me more examples? Or a rule for this kind of omission.In my language, omission make sense in two positions : 1) when rhythm makes up the omitted parts(sort of parallelism) 2) When the situation leaves no need for verb or subject (which I think is closest to this case)As I said before, I can understand the meaning, but I want to use it appropriately in its rightful place. I need to know at least the grammar rule for this omission.Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Our company has just hired Sarah Poole, [who was] formerly with Jay Scott, Inc.

That is what I gave you to explain the meaning, but I am not confident that anything was ever actually omitted. After all, we are left with nothing except an adverb and a prepositional phrase:

Sarah Poole, formerly with Jay Scott...
My residence, originally in Chicago...
My wife, unfortunately out of town now,...

These seem to be just adjective complements of the nouns.

Anonymous · Answer

Oh. Thanks, I've repeated your examples, and now I think I got it. Thanks again.

Mariacartman · Answer

other example: The man who is standing there, is my father
the man standing there is my father

Anonymous · Answer

What you've said is different. It is a "Reduced Adjective Clauses". A reduced adjective clause begins with either a present participle or a past participle. It's simple to know which one to use: if the reduced clause is made from an active verb, start the adjective clause with the present participle, but if it's made from a passive verb, begin the adjective clause with a past participle.
I saw a man who was carrying an umbrella. "was carrying” is active reduces to:
I saw a man carrying an umbrella.
We use “carrying” in the reduced clause because it comes from the active verb in the original clause.

The books which were published that year are expensive.“were published” is passive reduces to:
The books published that year are expensive.

In the case I was discussing, I faced a non-definitive adjective clause which the relative pronoun, who, and verb, was, has dropped from. That was confusing, because I have never seen something like that or at least have never noticed.

I know the meaning but...!

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions