the book I read (contact clause)
the book I read (contact clause) means “Object relative clause with no pronoun: put subject + verb straight after the noun”. When the noun is the object of the relative clause, English usually drops who/which/that and puts the new subject and verb right after the noun: the movie we watched, the bag I bought. Formation: noun + subject + verb (no relative pronoun)
Object relative clause with no pronoun: put subject + verb straight after the noun
A2Formation
noun + subject + verb (no relative pronoun)
Explanation
When the noun is the object of the relative clause, English usually drops who/which/that and puts the new subject and verb right after the noun: the movie we watched, the bag I bought. Nothing is missing in meaning — you can put that back (the movie that we watched) with no change. This only works for the object, not the subject.
Examples
Note
You can drop the pronoun only when it is the object. Compare the subject case, where it must stay: the man who lives here (egr061).
FAQ
the book I read (contact clause) — what does it mean and how is it used?
Object relative clause with no pronoun: put subject + verb straight after the noun. When the noun is the object of the relative clause, English usually drops who/which/that and puts the new subject and verb right after the noun: the movie we watched, the bag I bought. Nothing is missing in meaning — you can put that back (the movie that we watched) with no change. This only works for the object, not the subject.
the book I read (contact clause) — how do you form it?
noun + subject + verb (no relative pronoun)
the book I read (contact clause) — any usage notes?
You can drop the pronoun only when it is the object. Compare the subject case, where it must stay: the man who lives here (egr061).