[Grammar] Reducing Relative Clauses

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vcolts

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Ex 1: This is a laptop, (which is) not a desktop computer.

The words in parenthesis are the reduced part. I was told this is a case of reducing a relative clause.

If so:

Ex 2: The government helped in a number of ways, (which are) from mediation to buildling consensus.

Is the above also a grammatically correct usage of a reduced relative clause?

I find it hard to find a web page that demonstrates this particular usage (one that is defining in nature with nouns in it - similar appositives).

I would appreciate it if somebody can find a link that demonstrates this particular usage.
 

5jj

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There is no point in thinking of your examples as reduced relatives.

This is a laptop. This is not a desktop computer.
This is a laptop, not a desktop computer.
 

vcolts

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What is the grammatical construction of the reducing? or what do you call that grammatically?
 

TheParser

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What is the grammatical construction of the reducing? or what do you call that grammatically?


I AM A LEARNER, NOT A TEACHER

(1) I had to add my two cents because you have asked about one of my favorite topics.

(2) Consider:

The president, not the Congress, made the decision.

She prefers to camp out, not to pay for a motel room.

He gave me a mini-car, not a white elephant.

(a) Such constructions (sentences) are called contrasted elements.

(3) There are many theories on how to analyze them.

(4) If you google "contrasted elements," you will find a lot of information.

(5) If you will go to the search box at this helpline and type in "contrasted

elements," you will find many threads that discuss this fascinating topic.

EDIT: I forgot to credit the Harbrace College Handbook for the three sentences that I gave as examples.
 
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