Consecutive relative pronouns

Question

Hello...A grammar book says that the sentence A is incorrect. A: *They’ve given the job to Max, who has no qualifications, who starts next month. Then, how should A be changed? Maybe like B below, adding "and"? Or...Maybe like C, without the "commas"?B: They’ve given the job to Max, who has no qualifications, and who starts next month.C: They’ve given the job to Max who has no qualifications who starts next month.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Join them with "and". No comma.

They’ve given the job to Max, who has no qualifications and who starts next month.

You can also rearrange it even more.

They've given the job to Max. Unfortunately, he has no qualifications and he's supposed to start next month.

CJ

BillJ · Answer

Your book is right: this so-called 'stacking' can only occur with integrated (restrictive) relative clauses. Your example is of the supplementary (non-restrictive) kind, so it is ungrammatical.

The problem is that a supplementary relative clause can't combine with its antecedent to form a larger element which is antecedent for a second supplementary relative clause.

Your suggested alternant B won't work because the two relative clauses are still supplementary, and C won't work because the relative clauses are again supplementary (commas are required).

One solution might be: They've given the job to Max, [who has no qualifications and starts next month].

Here, the underlined elements form a coordination of verb phrases within the single relative clause (bracketed).

Consecutive relative pronouns

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