[Grammar] The best book that I have ever read

[alpacinou]

Hello to all,

When is it okay to omit "that" and "verb" ?

Please look at these examples:

1-The best book that I have ever read is Les Misérables.

2-The best book I have ever read is Les Misérables.

3-The best book that has been written is Les Misérables.

4-The best book ever written is Les Misérables.

The underlined parts could easily be omitted and I don't know how to explain for that.
When can't we do that?

 

[jutfrank]

There are two points here, which I've addressed as 1) and 2) in my answer below. The first (concerning the first and second sentences) is a general rule of grammar. The second (concerning the third and fourth sentences) is much more specific.

1) You can omit a relative pronoun (e.g. that) when it is the object of the verb in its defining relative clause.

2) Noun phrases following the pattern:

the + superlative adjective + noun phrase + that has/have ever been + past participle

can be reduced to:

the + superlative adjective + noun phrase + ever + past participle

In future, please remember to number your sentences for easy response.

 

[alpacinou]

There are two points here, which I've addressed as 1) and 2) in my answer below. The first (concerning the first and second sentences) is a general rule of grammar. The second (concerning the third and fourth sentences) is much more specific.

1) You can omit a relative pronoun (e.g. that) when it is the object of the verb in its defining relative clause.

2) Noun phrases following the pattern:

the + superlative adjective + noun phrase + that has/have ever been + past participle

can be reduced to:

the + superlative adjective + noun phrase + ever + past participle

In future, please remember to number your sentences for easy response.

I really appreciate your clarification.

I am a bit confused. Could you kindly provide more examples? For example for when relative pronoun cannot be omitted?

The second rule is only for when we have superlative? Can't it be applied in other situations as well?

 

[jutfrank]

Could you kindly provide more examples? For example for when relative pronoun cannot be omitted?

The relative pronoun cannot be omitted when it is the subject of the verb in its defining relative clause.

It was a day that made history. :tick:
It was a day made history. :cross:

The relative pronoun that is the subject of made and so cannot be omitted.

(You ought to read up on defining relative clauses.)

The second rule is only for when we have superlative? Can't it be applied in other situations as well?

The rule I gave you is only for the specific pattern I mentioned. I can't see a more general point.

Something to point out here is the fact that you have missed out the word ever in your third sentence. I can't tell whether that was deliberate or not. It seems to me that what you're asking about is specifically those sentences that contain an idea of 'best ever', 'worst ever', etc.

 

[alpacinou]

With respect to the second rule:

2) Noun phrases following the pattern:

the + superlative adjective + noun phrase + that has/have ever been + past participle

can be reduced to:

the + superlative adjective + noun phrase + ever + past participle

Is it applied only when we have passive structure and superlative?

 

[jutfrank]

Yes.

 

[alpacinou]

So, no other situation when that/who+has been is eliminated?

 

[jutfrank]

Maybe reading this will help:

https://www.thoughtco.com/reduced-relative-clauses-1211107

 

[alpacinou]

What is the rule for this reduction?

The problem with the book is that it is too long.

The problem with the book is it is too long.

 

[jutfrank]

The second sentence doesn't use that, which is not grammatically essential for the combination of clauses.

What do you mean exactly by asking "What is the rule"?

The very general rule of use I'd give you is always to use that when you're writing anything other than the most informal of text types, because it always makes the sentence slightly easier to read. In spoken English, it's more likely that a speaker would choose to omit it.