143 Relative clauses: participle and to-infinitive 1 Relative clauses with a participle Read this news report about an accident. Several people were injured this morning when a lorry carrying concrete pipes overturned in the centre of town and hit two cars. Ambulances called to the scene took a long time to get through the rush hour traffic. The accident happened in Alfred Road, where road repairs are under way. People who saw the accident say that the lorry hit the cars after it swerved to avoid a pile of stones left in the road. The traffic chaos caused by the accident has meant long delays for people travelling to work. Carrying concrete pipes, called to the scene, etc. are relative clauses: they relate to a noun. Carrying concrete pipes tells us something about a lorry. We can form these clauses with an active participle, e.g. carrying, or a passive participle, e.g. called. The participles can refer to the present or the past. ACTIVE There are delays this morning for people travelling to work. (= people who are travelling to work) A lorry carrying concrete pipes has overturned. (= a lorry which was carrying pipes) the path leading to the church (= the path which leads/led to the church) The active participle means the same as a pronoun + a continuous verb, e.g. which is/was carrying, or a pronoun + a simple verb, e.g. which leads/led. But we do not use the active participle for a single action in the past. The police want to interview people who saw the accident. not people seeing the accident PASSIVE / have a message for people delayed by the traffic chaos. (= people who are being delayed) We noticed a pile of stones left in the road. (= stones which had been left there) food sold in supermarkets (= food which is/was sold in supermarkets) The passive participle means the same as a pronoun + a passive verb, e.g. which is/was sold. Relative clauses with a to-infinitive Look at this structure with the to-infinitive. New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote. (= the first country which gave women the vote) Melanie was the only person to write a letter of thanks. (= the only person who wrote a letter of thanks) Here are some more examples. The guest on our show is the youngest golfer to win the Open. Emma Thompson is the most famous actress to appear on stage here. We can use a to-infinitive with these words: first, second, etc; next and last; only; and superlatives, e.g. youngest, most famous. We can leave out the noun (except after only) if the meaning is clear. The captain was the last to leave the sinking ship. PAGE 342 • RELATIVE CLAUSES Practice A Relative clauses with a participle (1) Complete the definitions. Put in an active or passive participle of these verbs: add, arrive, block, own, play, take, tell, watch, wear ► A competitor is someone i.. 1 Olivia's daughter swam a length of the pool. No other girl as young as her did that. Olivia's daughter was ............ The secretaries got a pay rise. No one else did. The secretaries were .... The pilot left the aircraft. Everyone else had left before him. Mrs Harper became Managing Director. No other woman had done that before. Daniel applied for the job. No other candidate as suitable as him applied. RELATIVE CLAUSES • PAGE 343