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English 1b3 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Grammar-Reduced relative clauses
Thank you for your answers, most of which were very helpful.
Do you think the versions below, where I have reduced the relative clause, are grammatical?
a.Thank you for your answers, most of them helpful
b. Thank you for your answers, most helpful
I believe they are grammatical. However, I would avoid them, as b is awkward and c is ambiguous (and awkward).
If you still believe they are ungrammatical, then would you say these identically constructed reduced relative clauses are also ungrammatical (these examples are descriptive in nature, a style more suited to these constructions)?
Similar to sentence a above: A horde of men, most of them leather-clad mobsters, ran rampant throughout city.
Similar to sentence b above. There, in the midst of the chaos, was a row of houses, all about to be destroyed by the angry, drunken mob.
Thank you
Do you think the versions below, where I have reduced the relative clause, are grammatical?
a.Thank you for your answers, most of them helpful
b. Thank you for your answers, most helpful
I believe they are grammatical. However, I would avoid them, as b is awkward and c is ambiguous (and awkward).
If you still believe they are ungrammatical, then would you say these identically constructed reduced relative clauses are also ungrammatical (these examples are descriptive in nature, a style more suited to these constructions)?
Similar to sentence a above: A horde of men, most of them leather-clad mobsters, ran rampant throughout city.
Similar to sentence b above. There, in the midst of the chaos, was a row of houses, all about to be destroyed by the angry, drunken mob.
Thank you
Top answer
B cannot be used to mean A. Where is C? Your 'similar' sentences are fine.
- B cannot be used to mean A.
- Where is C?
- Your 'similar' sentences are fine.
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3 Answers
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B cannot be used to mean A. Where is C?
Your 'similar' sentences are fine.
Your 'similar' sentences are fine.
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You must have misunderstood me. I have created sentences that match the two variations of the original; I'll reitterate:
Original 1: Thank you for your answers, most of which were helpful.
Here are two ways to reduce the relative clause:
a. Thank you for your answers, most of them helpful
b. Thank you for your answers, most helpful
Origi
Original 1: Thank you for your answers, most of which were helpful.
Here are two ways to reduce the relative clause:
a. Thank you for your answers, most of them helpful
b. Thank you for your answers, most helpful
Origi
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A is fine. And I still don't see C, which you mention in your post. 'Original 3' works because there is more context, eliminating any ambiguity.
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