Grammar

Question

Hello
1. In "They will have to consider the value of the benefit that was received." Is it correct to say that "that was received" relates to "the value of the benefit"?

2. In "They will have to consider the value of a benefit that was received." Does "that was received" relate/refer to "the value...benefit"?

3. " The aim is to secure a system of control over the activities of government, which maintains a balance between the public needs and the private interests of the individuals." To what does the clause "which...individuals." relate? Is it to "system of control"? I am finding it difficult to relate the clause to its main idea. Can you help me please?

4. In " The number of hours that we are allowed to work has decreased." To what does the clause "that...work" relate?

5. In "The number of hours allowed is taken into consideration." To what does "allowed" relate?

6. In " The number of people killed has increased." To what does "killed" relate?

7. Same question for "that have been killed" in "The number of people that have been killed has increased."

8. If I say " The number of hours that are allowed is taken into consideration." To what does the clause "that are allowed" relate? Is it about adjectival clause to "number of hours"?

9. CF "sold" in "The list of goods sold should be given." To what does "sold" relate?

Thanks

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Hi dodo, and welcome to English Forums.

I don't really understand all of your questions and your use of "relate."

1. What value are you talking about? The value of the benefit that they received. "that was received" tells you more about the value.

2. This sentence doesn't really work with "the value" (specific) and "a benefit" (general).

3. It's actually impossible to tell if the writer intended for the "which" clause to refer to "government" or "system of control."

4. Which hours? The hours that we are allowed to work. It restricts the meanings of "hours."

5. Same as #4.

6 & 7. Which people? The people who have been killed. #6 uses the particple to describe the people instead of putting in the passive. The meaning is the same.

8. Same as 4 and 5.

9. Which goods? The goods that have been sold. It restricts which goods you are referring to.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.

Some of your qureies here are easy to answeer. But, as I've commented in a few places, some of them require some interpretation of what meaning the writer intends.

1. In "They will have to consider the value of the benefit that was received." Is it correct to say that "that was received" relates to "the value of the benefit"? No, it relates to 'benefit'.

2. In "They will have to consider the value of a benefit that was received." Does "that was received" relate/refer to "the value...benefit"? Same as #1.

3. " The aim is to secure a system of control over the activities of government, which maintains a balance between the public needs and the private interests of the individuals."
To what does the clause "which...individuals." relate? Is it to "system of control"? Yes, but it could also be 'government'. Some interpretation odf the writer's meaning is required.
I am finding it difficult to relate the clause to its main idea. Can you help me please?
Let me rearrange the sentence in a way that I think better reflects the writer's meaning.
"The aim is to secure over the activities of government a system of control which maintains a balance between the public needs and the private interests of the individuals."

4. In " The number of hours that we are allowed to work has decreased." To what does the clause "that...work" relate? 'Number'. That's the only thing here that can 'decrease'.

5. In "The number of hours allowed is taken into consideration." To what does "allowed" relate? You could argue for 'number' or 'hours'. Does it really make any difference?

6. In " The number of people killed has increased." To what does "killed" relate? 'People'. Killing involves people.

7. Same question for "that have been killed" in "The number of people that have been killed has increased." 'People'.

8. If I say " The number of hours that are allowed is taken into consideration." To what does the clause "that are allowed" relate? Is it about adjectival clause to "number of hours"? That's really the idea, not just in this sentence but in some of your earlier ones. It gets a little tricky if you start debating whether it relates more to 'number' or to 'hours'.

9. CF "sold" in "The list of goods sold should be given." To what does "sold" relate? 'Goods'. We can sell goods. We don't normally sell a list.

Best wishes, Clive

Dodo007 · Answer

Two different answers!!! Confusing

BarbaraPA · Answer

Yes, interesting. I applied the first one to the value, and Clive to the benefit.

That tells you that the writer failed in his or her task of making the meaning clear.

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