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SuumEorum Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Relative clause? Possibly sentential.
Hello there!
I've just been analysing a rather large piece of text, and the last sentence reads 'Which is all well and good, but why should any of it matter?'. Am I correct in saying that 'which' introduces a sentential relative clause? Which refers back to the entire paragraph preceding it? So far, I've only encountered sentential clauses which refer back to another clause, never anything more than a sentence. Thanks!
I've just been analysing a rather large piece of text, and the last sentence reads 'Which is all well and good, but why should any of it matter?'. Am I correct in saying that 'which' introduces a sentential relative clause? Which refers back to the entire paragraph preceding it? So far, I've only encountered sentential clauses which refer back to another clause, never anything more than a sentence. Thanks!
Top answer
Beginning a sentence with a relative clause, in other words a subordinate clause, with an antecedent in the previous sentence or paragraph is always strictly speaking incorrect grammar. Writers with a good command of English and style occasionally do so, though. It really makes no difference what the antecedent is in such cases.
- Beginning a sentence with a relative clause, in other words a subordinate clause, with an antecedent in the previous sentence or paragraph is always strictly speaking incorrect grammar.
- Writers with a good command of English and style occasionally do so, though.
- It really makes no difference what the antecedent is in such cases.
- " CB
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4 Answers
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Beginning a sentence with a relative clause, in other words a subordinate clause, with an antecedent in the previous sentence or paragraph is always strictly speaking incorrect grammar. Writers with a good command of English and style occasionally do so, though. It really makes no difference what the antecedent is in such cases. The average student does well to avoid such sentences because he ofte
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Thanks for your input, it was quite helpful. However, I'm not actually the composer of the sentence, I've merely been asked to analyse it, so I can't really avoid it in this instance. But from what you said, assuming that the author of the piece had an impeccable command of the language, then it could (perhaps not in the strictest sense of the word) be considered a sentential relative claus
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SuumEorumBut from what you said, assuming that the author of the piece had an impeccable command of the language, then it could (perhaps not in the strictest sense of the word) be considered a sentential relative clause?There may be grammarians who might do that. I have never heard the term "sentential relative clause", so I have no opinion about it. A
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A sentential relative clause can be paraphrased by expressions such as something which (where the which-clause is actually a postmodifier in a noun phrase) or and that (with a coordinate clause). Sentential relative clauses are always non-restrictive.
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