In this sentence by novelist Peter De Vries (Comfort Me With Apples, 1956), the symbol Ø indicates a zero relative pronoun.

Updated on February 12, 2020

In English grammar, a zero relative pronoun is the missing element at the beginning of a relative clause in which the relative pronoun has been omitted. Also called a bare relative, zero relativizer, or empty operator.

In standard English, the zero relative pronoun can't serve as the subject of the main verb in the clause. Relative clauses headed by zeros (represented as Ø in the examples below) are sometimes called contact clauses or contact relatives.

Khi đại từ quan hệ làm chủ ngữ trong mệnh đề quan hệ, trước đại từ quan hệ không có giới từ, có thể rút gọn mệnh

đề quan hệ thành:

1. Hiện tại phân từ (V-ing): khi động từ trong mệnh đề quan hệ ở dạng chủ động. Sử dụng động từ ở hiện

tại phân từ V-ing để thay thế cho ĐTQH +Verb Ex: - The man who is standing there is my brother.

→ The man standing there is my brother.

- The people who saw the accident had to report it to the police.

→ The people seeing the accident had to report it to the police.

2. Quá khứ phân từ (V-ed): khi động từ trong mệnh đề quan hệ ở dạng bị động. Sử dụng quá khứ phân từ VP2

để thay thế cho ĐTQH +V

Ex: - The boy who was injured in the accident was taken to the hospital.

→ The boy injured in the accident was taken to the hospital.

- Some of the people who have been invited to the party can’t come.

→ Some of the people invited to the party can’t come.

NOTE: STUDY TIPS

Nếu chủ ngữ của 2 mệnh đề khách nhau thì dùng: for sb + to V để chỉ mục đích. Ex:

We have some picture books that children can read.

→ We have some picture books for children to read

3. Cụm động từ nguyên thể (to V/ to be + PPII/ for sb to V)

1. Khi danh từ đứng sau các từ: the only, the next, the last, the first, … và so sánh nhất Ex:

- This is the only student who can solve the problem.

→ This is the only student to solve the problem.

- She is the youngest player who won the game.

→ She is the youngest player to win the game.

Câu bắt đầu bằng: here, there - Here us the

form that you must fill in.

→ Here us the form for you to fill in.

- There are six letters which have to be written today. → There are six letters to be

written today.

Nếu trước đại từ quan hệ có giới từ thì phải đưa giớ từ xuống cuối câu.

Ex: We have a peg on which we can hang our coat.

→ We have a peg to hang our coat on.

Cụm danh từ (ngữ đồng vị) khi mệnh đề có dạng: which/ who + be + danh từ/ cụm

danh từ/ cụm giới từ

Cách làm: bỏ đại từ quan hệ who, which và động từ be.

Ex: Vo Nguyen Giap, who was the first general of Vietnam, passed away in 2013. →

Vo Nguyen Giap, the first general of Vietnam, passed away in 2013.

***) NOTE. Dng 3 ny ch s dng khi Danh t trong mê

nh đ" ch

nh luôn đi c'ng với: the first, the second,

the third,, the next, the last, the only và so sánh nhất

4. Non-relative clauses: BW hXn đại từ quan hệ khi nó làm tân ngữ trong mệnh đề quan hệ xác định.

The man whom/who I am meeting for lunch is a staff of training and education ministry.

 The man I am meeting for lunch is a staff of training and education ministry.

9. Choose the best answer.

1. The house ______ in the storm has now been rebuilt.

1. destroyed B. destroying C. which destroyed D. that is destroyed

2. The man ______ at the blackboard is our teacher. A. stood B. stands C. standing D. to stand

3. Tom was the last ______the classroom yesterday. A. to leave B. leaving C. left D. leaves

4. 4. Linda was the last student ______ at the oral exam. A. to be asked B. asking C. asks D. to ask

5. The bridge _____ by French architects is very nice.