Are you confused about when words like who, which, or that can be removed from a sentence?
ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਸ ਗੱਲੋਂ ਉਲਝਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹੋ ਕਿ ਵਾਕ (sentence) ਵਿੱਚੋਂ who, which, ਜਾਂ that ਵਰਗੇ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਦੋਂ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?
Sometimes, we can drop these relative pronouns to make our sentences short and clear. But if we remove them by mistake in the wrong places, our sentences become grammatically incorrect.
ਕਈ ਵਾਰ, ਅਸੀਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਾਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਛੋਟਾ ਅਤੇ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ relative pronouns ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ। ਪਰ ਜੇਕਰ ਅਸੀਂ ਗਲਤ ਥਾਵਾਂ ‘ਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਤਾਂ ਸਾਡਾ ਵਾਕ ਗਲਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
In this easy guide, we will learn 7 important rules about when we can—and cannot—remove relative pronouns. Every rule is explained in simple English and Punjabi with correct and incorrect examples so you can learn quickly and score high in your exams!
ਇਸ ਆਸਾਨ ਗਾਈਡ ਵਿੱਚ, ਅਸੀਂ 7 ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਨਿਯਮ ਸਿੱਖਾਂਗੇ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ relative pronouns ਨੂੰ ਕਦੋਂ ਹਟਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਕིਦੋਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਟਾ ਸਕਦੇ। ਹਰੇਕ ਨਿਯਮ ਨੂੰ ਸਹੀ ਅਤੇ ਗਲਤ ਉਦਾਹਰਣਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਆਸਾਨ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਮਝਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਜਲਦੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਸਕੋ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੇਪਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਧੀਆ ਅੰਕ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰ ਸਕੋ!
Rule (1): Omission of Relative Pronoun in Objective Case (Restrictive)
When a relative pronoun is used in the objective case and the clause is restrictive, the relative pronoun can be omitted from the sentence. However, certain restrictions apply:
ਜਦੋਂ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ objective case ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ ਅਤੇ clause restrictive ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ sentence ਤੋਂ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਕੁਝ ਨਿਯਮ ਹਨ:
- After omission, personal pronouns (me, us, you, him, her, them, it) must not be inserted.
Relative pronoun ਹਟਾਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ personal pronouns (me, us, you, him, her, them, it) ਨਹੀਂ ਜੋੜੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ। - If a preposition comes before the relative pronoun, the pronoun cannot be omitted.
ਜੇ preposition relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun ਨਹੀਂ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ। - If the preposition is placed after the verb, the relative pronoun may be omitted.
ਜੇ preposition verb ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। - If the relative pronoun is in the objective case but the clause is continuative, the pronoun cannot be omitted.
ਜੇ relative pronoun objective case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇ ਪਰ clause continuative ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun ਨਹੀਂ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ। - If which is in the objective case and its antecedent is a clause, it cannot be omitted.
ਜੇ which objective case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਸਦਾ antecedent ਇੱਕ clause ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ।
Examples
- He is the teacher that you like most. = He is the teacher you like most. (Correct)
- The boy whom he struck was hurt. = The boy he struck was hurt. (Correct)
Note (i):
- He is the teacher you like him most. (Incorrect)
- He is the teacher you like most. (Correct)
- She is the girl I love her. (Incorrect)
- She is the girl I love. (Correct)
Note (ii):
- He is the publisher about whom I was talking. (Correct)
- He is the publisher about I was talking. (Incorrect)
- The day on which he came here was Sunday. (Correct)
- The day on he came here was Sunday. (Incorrect)
Note (iii):
- He is the publisher I was talking about. (Correct)
- This is the chair I sit on. (Correct)
Note (iv):
- She is a beautiful girl, whom I love. (Correct) (Continuative – cannot omit)
- I have a bicycle, which is old. (Correct) (Continuative – cannot omit)
Note (v):
- He is honest, which I know. (Correct) (Clause antecedent – cannot omit)
- She is very talented, which we know. (Correct) (Clause antecedent – cannot omit)
Key Point
- Rule: Relative pronoun in objective case (restrictive) may be omitted, but not in continuative clauses or when preceded by a preposition.
Objective case (restrictive) ਵਿੱਚ relative pronoun ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ continuative clauses ਜਾਂ preposition ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (2): No Omission of Relative Pronoun in Nominative Case
When a relative pronoun is used in the nominative case (i.e., as the subject of the clause), it must not be omitted. The relative pronoun itself performs the role of the subject, so removing it makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
ਜਦੋਂ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ nominative case (clause ਦੇ subject ਵਜੋਂ) ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ sentence ਤੋਂ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ। Relative pronoun ਆਪ ਹੀ subject ਦਾ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਲਈ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਹਟਾਉਣ ਨਾਲ sentence ਗਲਤ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- He is the man who helps me. (Correct – relative pronoun retained)
- He is the man helps me. (Incorrect – relative pronoun omitted)
- I know the student that has abused her. (Correct – relative pronoun retained)
- I know the student has abused her. (Incorrect – relative pronoun omitted)
Key Point
- Rule: Relative pronoun in nominative case must always be retained.
Nominative case ਵਿੱਚ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ sentence ਤੋਂ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਨਾ ਹਟਾਓ।
Rule (3): Omission of Relative Pronoun + Be with Noun Complement
When a relative pronoun is followed by the verb be, and the complement of be is a noun, the construction Relative pronoun + be can be omitted. In this case, the noun after be is used in apposition to the antecedent.
ਜਦੋਂ relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ verb be ਆਵੇ ਅਤੇ be ਦਾ complement ਇੱਕ noun ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ Relative pronoun + be ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ be ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ noun antecedent ਦੇ ਨਾਲ apposition ਦੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- He is Dr. D.N. Jha, who is our principal.
= He is Dr. D.N. Jha, our principal. (Correct) - Mr. S. K. Jha, who is my friend, who is a good chemist.
= Mr. S. K. Jha, my friend, is a good chemist. (Correct)
Key Point
- Rule: If Relative pronoun + be is followed by a noun complement, it can be omitted, and the noun is placed in apposition.
ਜੇ Relative pronoun + be ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ noun complement ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਹਟਾ ਕੇ noun ਨੂੰ apposition ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (4): Use of Participle Instead of Relative Pronoun + Full Verb
When a relative pronoun is in the nominative case and is followed by a full verb, the construction Relative pronoun + full verb can be replaced by a participle. This omission is possible only when the relative pronoun is used in a restrictive/defining sense.
ਜਦੋਂ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ nominative case ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ full verb ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ Relative pronoun + full verb ਦੀ ਥਾਂ participle ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ omission ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ relative pronoun restrictive/defining sense ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ।
Examples
- He knows the boy who is playing with my son.
= He knows the boy playing with my son. (Correct) - Anyone who comes late will be fined.
= Anyone coming late will be fined. (Correct) - All the persons who were injured in the accident were sent to hospital.
= All the persons injured in the accident were sent to hospital. (Correct)
Key Point
- Rule: In restrictive clauses, Relative pronoun + full verb may be omitted and replaced by a participle.
Restrictive clauses ਵਿੱਚ Relative pronoun + full verb ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾ ਕੇ participle ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (5): Omission of Relative Pronoun + Be with Adjectives (available / possible)
When a relative pronoun is in the nominative case (restrictive/defining) and is followed by the verb be, and the complement of be is an adjective such as available or possible, the construction Relative pronoun + be can be omitted. The adjective then directly qualifies the antecedent.
ਜਦੋਂ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ nominative case (restrictive/defining) ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ verb be ਆਵੇ, ਅਤੇ be ਦਾ complement available ਜਾਂ possible ਵਰਗਾ adjective ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ Relative pronoun + be ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ adjective antecedent ਨੂੰ ਸਿੱਧਾ qualify ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- He will send me all the books that are available there.
= He will send me all the books available there. (Correct) - March is the only month that is possible.
= March is the only month possible. (Correct)
Key Point
- Rule: In restrictive clauses, when Relative pronoun + be is followed by adjectives like available or possible, omit the pronoun and verb.
Restrictive clauses ਵਿੱਚ ਜੇ Relative pronoun + be ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ available ਜਾਂ possible ਵਰਗੇ adjectives ਹੋਣ, ਤਾਂ pronoun ਅਤੇ verb ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾ ਦਿਓ।
Rule (6): Omission of Second Relative Pronoun for Same Antecedent
When two relative pronouns in the nominative case are used for the same antecedent, the second relative pronoun can be omitted. This makes the sentence smoother and avoids unnecessary repetition.
ਜਦੋਂ ਇੱਕੋ antecedent ਲਈ nominative case ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋ relative pronouns ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ ਦੂਜੇ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਨਾਲ sentence ਹੋਰ ਸੁਗਮ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਬੇਲੋੜੀ ਦੁਹਰਾਵੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- He has invited Dr. Yamuna, who lives in Delhi and who comes here once a year.
= He has invited Dr. Yamuna, who lives in Delhi and comes here once a year. (Correct) - I live in a house, which belongs to a naughty woman and which does not look very beautiful.
= I live in a house, which belongs to a naughty woman and does not look very beautiful. (Correct)
Key Point
- Rule: If two relative pronouns in nominative case refer to the same antecedent, omit the second one.
ਜੇ nominative case ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋ relative pronouns ਇੱਕੋ antecedent ਲਈ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ ਦੂਜੇ relative pronoun ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾ ਦਿਓ।
Rule (7): No Apostrophe with Antecedent before Relative Pronoun
When an antecedent is followed by a relative pronoun, we do not use apostrophe ‘s (’s) or apostrophe (’) with the antecedent. Instead, the construction must be written using of.
ਜਦੋਂ antecedent ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ antecedent ਨਾਲ apostrophe ‘s (’s) ਜਾਂ apostrophe (’) ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ। ਇਸ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ of ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- These are the principal’s orders which must be obeyed. (Incorrect – apostrophe used)
- These are the orders of the principal which must be obeyed. (Correct – “of” used)
- He went to Mohan’s house who is my friend. (Incorrect – apostrophe used)
- He went to the house of Mohan who is my friend. (Correct – “of” used)
Key Point
- Rule: Do not use apostrophe with antecedent before a relative pronoun; use of instead.
Relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ antecedent ਨਾਲ apostrophe ਨਾ ਵਰਤੋ; ਇਸ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ of ਵਰਤੋ।