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English 1b3 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Relative Clause vs Independent Clause

Why is a more idiomatic than b?

Is it because the listener knows who Mike is? Are relative clauses more commonly used when describing something or someone unknown to the listener or reader?

a) Me: Have you heard from Christine? I just asked Mike, and he said you were following up with her.

b) Me: Have you heard from Christine? I just asked Mike, who said you were following up with her.
  

Top answer

a) Me: Have you heard from Christine? I just asked Mike and he said you were catching up with her. b) Me: Have you heard from Christine?

— Michaeln R

  • a) Me: Have you heard from Christine?
  • I just asked Mike and he said you were catching up with her.
  • b) Me: Have you heard from Christine?
  • I just asked Mike, who said you were catching up with her.
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6 Answers
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a) Me: Have you heard from Christine? I just asked Mike and he said you were catching up with her.

b) Me: Have you heard from Christine? I just asked Mike, who said you were catching up with her.
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Catching up is not what I'm after here. I would also argue there is no need to remove the comma before 'and' in version a. Using a comma as well as 'and' to separate two independent clauses is common practice.
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Why is a more idiomatic than b?

Is it because the listener knows who Mike is? Are relative clauses more commonly used when describing something or someone unknown to the listener or reader? Maybe. Maybe not.
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Michaeln RAnd common practice doesn't necessarily mean correct.
It is definitely correct.
Michaeln R"and he said you were following up with her" doesn't make sense.
Please explain why. To follow up is an idiom, so perhaps you are suggesting it cannot change to the ing form...
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Thanks, Clive. I think your two assumptions are good ones.
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