Question

Which one is correct?1- people happy about that are going there tomorrow.2- people , happy about that, are going there tomorrow.

4444mv · Accepted Answer

I think in the first sentence, 'happy about that' is a defining relative clause and in the second,  it isn't.

CalifJim · Answer

4444mv I think in the first sentence, 'happy about that' is a defining relative clause and in the second, it isn't.

Mostly correct, but it's not a full clause. Can you tell Anonymous more? Maybe he doesn't know what "defining" means, or what implications that has for the number of people we might be referring to if it's defining and if it's not defining.

CJ

4444mv · Answer

CalifJim 4444mv I think in the first sentence, 'happy about that' is a defining relative clause and in the second, it isn't.Mostly correct, but it's not a full clause. Can you tell Anonymous more? Maybe he doesn't know what "defining" means, or what implications that has for the number of people we might be referring to if it's defining and if it's not defining.CJ

Ok, CJ. I´ll try.
Modification through adjective clauses (also called relative clauses) can be 'defining' (or restricitve) and 'non-defining' (or non-restrictive). Defining relative clauses are used to identify or distinguish one person or thing from another: The boy (who is) standing by the door is my brother. (This boy, not the other one).
Non-defining relative clauses are not used to identify something but simply add extra information: Mary, who sometimes likes to be with others and sometimes likes to be alone, is an ambivert. Only the name Mary identifies the person. The clause gives aditional information.
Non-defining relative clauses are encloused by commas. Defining relative clauses have no commas around them.
The relative pronoun who, in who is standing by the door, is the subject of the clause. When who is is omitted, the clause is called reduced relative clause.

I hope this helps.
mv

CalifJim · Answer

4444mv I´ll try.

Good try! Now what about the people in the original sentences?

1- People happy about that are going there tomorrow.
2- People, happy about that, are going there tomorrow.

Are they the same people in both sentences? Or are they two different groups of people? How does that work?

CJ

4444mv · Answer

CalifJim 4444mv I´ll try.Good try! Now what about the people in the original sentences?1- People happy about that are going there tomorrow.2- People, happy about that, are going there tomorrow. Are they the same people in both sentences? Or are they two different groups of people? How does that work? CJ

Oh my ***! Let me think...

The first sentence refers to a group of people that are happy about something (going there or something that has been mentioned bebore), only the ones that are happy and the second one refers to people in general and adds the commentary that they are happy about doing so or about something. I'm not altogheter sure about what this that stands for. Is it an anaphoric reference?

mv

CalifJim · Answer

4444mv I'm not altogether sure about what this that stands for.

Nobody is sure about this. Don't worry about that part. "that" is something mentioned previously, but we don't know what it is. That's OK.

4444mvThe first sentence refers to a group of people that are happy about something (going there or something that has been mentioned before), only the ones that are happy, and the second one refers to people in general and adds the commentary that they are happy about doing so or about something.

Excellent! It's two groups of people. Just the happy ones (and not the unhappy ones). Or all of them (and they're all happy).

CJ

4444mv · Answer

CalifJim 4444mv I'm not altogether sure about what this that stands for.Nobody is sure about this. Don't worry about that part. "that" is something mentioned previously, but we don't know what it is. That's OK.4444mvThe first sentence refers to a group of people that are happy about something (going there or something that has been mentioned before), only the ones that are happy, and the second one refers to people in general and adds the commentary that they are happy about doing so or about something.Excellent! It's two groups of people. Just the happy ones (and not the unhappy ones). Or all of them (and they're all happy).CJ

Thank you CJ!

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