Usage of "that" vs. Verb in present Continuous Form
Hi guys!
I met a question concerning the effectiveness of a phrase and wish to have some help from you 
"A change in the insect population could have a disastrous impact on [certain bird species. They rely on the affected insects as their food source]".
It is asking to combine those two phrases in the bracket in the most effective way. There were two options.
B) certain bird species that rely on the affected insects
C) certain bird species relying on the affected insects
The answer was B. But I'm wondering why C doesn't work??? When to use "that" and when to use the verb in the present continuous form??
Many thanks in advance.
Top answer
yishengchengnuo I'm wondering why C doesn't work? It's an adjectival participal clause, also called a reduced relative clause. , by deleting which are in this example.
- yishengchengnuo I'm wondering why C doesn't work?
- It's an adjectival participal clause, also called a reduced relative clause.
- , by deleting which are in this example.
- Thus, species relying on is a reduction of species which are relying on , and that is not correct because 'rely', and not 'are relying', is required here.
- It's a general statement, not a statement about a specific group of birds that are currently reliant on those insects.
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yishengchengnuoI'm wondering why C doesn't work?
It's an adjectival participal clause, also called a reduced relative clause. The reduction consists in deleting a relative pronoun and a form of be, ie., by deleting which are in this example.
Thus, species relying on is a reduction of species which are relying on, an
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