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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Question on optional words (?) and one other

Hi. Are the words in parentheses optional?

1. He is going to pay Joe a second visit (which or that) he hopes to be a happier one.

2. The spelling of his full name is on the form (which or that) Joe sent to you on last Friday.

In the Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary, one of the definitions for the word "winning" is this (as an adjective):

You can use winning to describe a person or thing that wins something such as a competition, game, or election.

Could we have written it like this? I feel this version might be correct since the existence of the conjunction "or" (if you understand what I am trying to get at - whether right or wrong).

You can use winning to describe a person or thing, which wins something such as a competition, game, or election.
  

Top answer

1-- Not optional; I feel you need the conjunction. 2-- Optional 3-- No, the clause is restrictive and the original sentence is correct. I would not advise you to spend your time looking for errors in dictionaries; if there is one, you won't notice it.

  • 1-- Not optional; I feel you need the conjunction.
  • 2-- Optional 3-- No, the clause is restrictive and the original sentence is correct.
  • I would not advise you to spend your time looking for errors in dictionaries; if there is one, you won't notice it.
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3 Answers
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1-- Not optional; I feel you need the conjunction.
2-- Optional
3-- No, the clause is restrictive and the original sentence is correct. I would not advise you to spend your time looking for errors in dictionaries; if there is one, you won't notice it.
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Hi. Thank you. Why did you say one is not optional and one is?

1. He is going to pay Joe a second visit (which or that) he hopes to be a happier one.

2. The spelling of his full name is on the form (which or that) Joe sent to you on last Friday.

Also, could I write your sentence in your response differently? Thank you for your advice.

Your
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Because #1 is confusing without which/that.

I would advise you (not) to spend-- This is giving advice.
I would not advise you to (not) spend-- This is refraining from giving advice. Obviously, with the double negative, it would be quite awkward and should be used only if absolutely necessary.

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