relative clause.

Question

I don't know why a sentence containing a relative clause would be changed into a sentence with "to + infinitive". Is there a rule for it. Please help explain.

"We had a river in which we could swim."

I can rewrite like that: "We had a river to swim in."

Thanks very much.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I don't think there is a rule for this, but "can" or "could" seems to have something to do with it.

... which ... can/could ... VERB = to VERB

I need a pencil with which I can write.
I need a pencil with which I will be able to write.
I need a pencil to write with.

Henry was looking for a book which he could read quickly.
Henry was looking for a book to read quickly.

This is one way that we can do it.
This is one way to do it.

CJ

Minhuoc · Answer

Thank you for your explanation. Please help me more.

What about the following sentence? Is it another case in which I can exchange a sentence into another one with "to+infinitive"?

" He was the first man who discovered this island."

"He was the first man to discover this land."

Thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

Yes. This one is "only", "first" or "last" + infinitive. (Any other ordinal number will do as well.)

They were the last who arrived. They were the last to arrive.
We were the first on our block who saw the new film. We were the first on our block to see the new film.
I was the third person who joined the club. I was the third person to join the club.
They were the only students who passed the exam. They were the only students to pass the exam.

CJ

Minhuoc · Answer

Thank you very much for your kind help.

relative clause.

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