[Grammar] Which non-defining relative clause can be shortened?

[uktous]

Hi,

Question:
Which sentence can be shortened?

non-defining relative clause

sentence1:
Mary, who is 25 years old, joins our company today.
sentence2:
Mary, who joins our company today, is 25 years old.
Sentence3:
Mary told me a story, which made me laugh.
Sentence4:
Mary told me a story, which was very funny.


my opinion:
all 4 can be shortened / reduced.

S1 --> Mary, 25 years old, joins our company today.
S2 --> Mary, joining our company today, is 25 years old.
S3 --> Mary told me a story, making me laugh.
S4 --> Mary told me a story, very funny.




thankshttp://forum.wordreference.com/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=10897331

 

[5jj]

Mary, 25 years old, joins our company today. This is possible, but uncommon. If a company were to give people's ages, I think they would be more likely to write the relative clause in full. A journalist would probably write, "Mary (25) joins the company today".

Mary, joining our company today, is 25 years old. Possible, but I don't think you'd hear/see it often, at least not in this particular example.

Mary told me a story, making me laugh. Fine

Mary told me a story, very funny. Only in speech. 'Very funny' is almost an aside.