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Vcolts Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

grammar check

Ex.

a. The campus has many buildings built in a modern style that resemble buildings of metropolitan New York.
b. The campus has many buildings which are built in a modern style that resemble buildings of metropolitan New York.

Q. Are the above sentences grammatically correct and academically acceptable?

The "that" clause is describing the buildings, not the style, right?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Some academics might question the use of "which" (instead of "that") in restrictive relative clauses, but many others also accept it. Yes, the "that" clause refers to the buildings. If it referred to the style, it would be 'a modern style that resembles building'.

— Anonymous

  • Some academics might question the use of "which" (instead of "that") in restrictive relative clauses, but many others also accept it.
  • Yes, the "that" clause refers to the buildings.
  • If it referred to the style, it would be 'a modern style that resembles building'.
  • Both your sentences are grammatical.
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7 Answers
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Some academics might question the use of "which" (instead of "that") in restrictive relative clauses, but many others also accept it. Yes, the "that" clause refers to the buildings. If it referred to the style, it would be 'a modern style that resembles building'. Both your sentences are grammatical.
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erm.. the example A is actually like that?
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No, the A example is The campus has many buildings built in a modern style that resemble buildings of metropolitan New York. If "that" referred to "modern style", the sentence would be The campus has many buildings built in a modern style that resembles buildings of metropolitan New York.
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That's what I initially thought.
So basically, "S" is the only way to differentiate the two, right?
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vcoltsSo basically, "S" is the only way to differentiate the two, right?
Right. You are lucky that they are not both of the same number:

The campus has many buildings built in modern styles that resemble buildings of metropolitan New York.
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And in that case, we would have to somehow rewrite it, right?

Thanks, Anonymous User and Mister Micawber!
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Not unless 'that' refers to buildings. The expected reference is to the nearest preceding noun.
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