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Holyduke Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Reduction of adverb clauses

Hi,

Can conditional clauses be reduced in the same manner as adverb clauses of time?

While John was riding his bike, he hit a dog.

While riding his bike, he hit a dog.

Can if, unless, only if, in the case that, etc... be reduced in the same manner? (omit subject, omit beV or V+ing, or even omit the subordinating conjunctions?)

Thank you for your time.
  

Top answer

Hi Yes, it can work with "if". I think the following are OK.. If I get to the station early, I'll have time for a sandwich vs If early, I can get a sandwich Only if he is careful will he make it to the end of the track vs Only if careful will he make it I'm less certain about "unless" or "in the case that" Regards, Dave

— Anonymous

  • Hi Yes, it can work with "if".
  • I think the following are OK..
  • If I get to the station early, I'll have time for a sandwich vs If early, I can get a sandwich Only if he is careful will he make it to the end of the track vs Only if careful will he make it I'm less certain about "unless" or "in the case that" Regards, Dave
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5 Answers
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Hi

Yes, it can work with "if". I think the following are OK..

If I get to the station early, I'll have time for a sandwich

vs

If early, I can get a sandwich

Only if he is careful will he make it to the end of the track

vs

Only if careful will he make it

I'm less certain about "unless" or "in the case that"

Regards, Da
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Hi,

Your example "If I get to the station early, I'll have time for a sandwich."

You reduced it to If early, ... What about "to the station"? Doesn't this leave out certain information which is suppose to be in the sentence?

Also, I remembered fragments of a sentence, don't know if it is right(reduced or a whole new sentence structure).

If I were to arr
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Hi,

Your example "If I get to the station early, I'll have time for a sandwich."

You reduced it to If early, ... What about "to the station"? Doesn't this leave out certain information which is suppose to be in the sentence?

Can the sentence be rephrased into: "If early to (arrive at) the station, I'll have time for a sandwich."?

Also, I remembered frag
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Speaking purely from a logic perspective,
holyduke"If I get to the station early, I'll have time for a sandwich."[/quote] this is the only logical and syntactically sound sentence in my opinion.

holydukeCan if, unless, only if, in the case that, etc... be reduced in the same manner? (omit subject, omit beV or V
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Thank you for the suggestion.

So besides the adverb clauses of time and reason (no wonder I can't find anything beside these two), there aren't blanket rules for reduction.

Thanks again
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