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Hi, I have a small question about the wording of an essay sentence of mine.

It is:

"Sentencing practices have changed drastically since the 1930’s, and there is little doubt they will continue to evolve alongside the societies that impose them."

Should the ending go, "societies that impose them," "which impose them," "whom impose them," ect.

"that" doesn't quite sound right to me, but I'm not sure, so any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

Whom only applies to people not institutions so whom is out already.

That and which can be a bit confusing. These easiest way to think of it is that 'which' provides more detail, and 'that' provides more essential information. 'Which' clauses are not essential to the meaning of a sentence and can be lost without losing the sense of the sentence. 'That' clauses are necessary for the meaning.

e.g. 'the egg, which was cooked by Mary, was the best he had ever eaten' would really have the same meaning if you just said 'the egg was the best he had ever eaten' as maybe it was the best, freshest, tastiest, biggest egg he'd ever been given, regardless of how Mary cooked it.

But, 'the egg that was cooked by Mary was the best he had ever eaten' would change meaning if you removed the 'that' clause as the fact that it was cooked by Mary becomes essential to its being the best, compared say, to eggs cooked by Jane or Beth.

So for your sentence, you can see that the 'impose them' is essential to the meaning, so 'that' is correct.

Raubt · Answer

Wow, that was an excellent lesson. I hope you teach English somewhere (that would be an unfortunate waste of talent if you don't).

Thanks for your help.

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