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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Restrictive/nonrestrictive problem(s)
Ok...
Can this be correct:
"They believe that we have certain rules, which guarantees us the right..."
Can it be that here the use of "which" refers to the "fact" that lies behind "having" the rules and, thus, it requires third person "-s"? This came up in a text and somehow I managed to get all confused after reading about restrictives/nonrestrictives. My gut is telling me that no way can this be right.
And what is really the difference in meaning in the following. I know that in the first example the ref. is to the rule that guarantees such and such, and in the second the ref. is to the fact of "having" a rule, which guarantees such and such... Or have I understood this all wrong? If I'm right, what is really the difference in meaning?
"I have this rule that guarantees me such and such."
"I have this rule, which guarantees me such and such."
Yeah... everything was going well before I started paying attention to restrictives/nonrestrictives:) I would appreciate any pointers/advice on how to make this rule a little less complicated. Thanks.
Can this be correct:
"They believe that we have certain rules, which guarantees us the right..."
Can it be that here the use of "which" refers to the "fact" that lies behind "having" the rules and, thus, it requires third person "-s"? This came up in a text and somehow I managed to get all confused after reading about restrictives/nonrestrictives. My gut is telling me that no way can this be right.
And what is really the difference in meaning in the following. I know that in the first example the ref. is to the rule that guarantees such and such, and in the second the ref. is to the fact of "having" a rule, which guarantees such and such... Or have I understood this all wrong? If I'm right, what is really the difference in meaning?
"I have this rule that guarantees me such and such."
"I have this rule, which guarantees me such and such."
Yeah... everything was going well before I started paying attention to restrictives/nonrestrictives:) I would appreciate any pointers/advice on how to make this rule a little less complicated. Thanks.
Top answer
htm referring to "the fact", shouldn't it be written as they believe, which guarantees us the right, that we have certain rules.... Anyway, I think the general rule has become don't use which in restrictive clauses. As well, the sentence could and probably should be written with less ambiguity, especially when speaking of rights (my opinion).
- htm referring to "the fact", shouldn't it be written as they believe, which guarantees us the right, that we have certain rules....
- Anyway, I think the general rule has become don't use which in restrictive clauses.
- As well, the sentence could and probably should be written with less ambiguity, especially when speaking of rights (my opinion).
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5 Answers
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http://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/azar/grammar_ex/message_board/archive/articles/00027.htm
referring to "the fact", shouldn't it be written as they believe, which guarant
referring to "the fact", shouldn't it be written as they believe, which guarant
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"They believe that we have certain rules, which guarantees us the right..."
'certain rules' is plural, and the verb form 'guarantees' is singular, so the antecedent of 'which' can not be 'certain rules'. Therefore, the antecedent must be the entire (singular) fact that 'they believe ...' This means that the right is guaranteed because 'they believe that we have certain rules'. That doesn
'certain rules' is plural, and the verb form 'guarantees' is singular, so the antecedent of 'which' can not be 'certain rules'. Therefore, the antecedent must be the entire (singular) fact that 'they believe ...' This means that the right is guaranteed because 'they believe that we have certain rules'. That doesn
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Hi. I don't think I comprehended what Anon was asking but I have a question that seemed to have been asked by Anon (not sure, though). What is the difference?
Anon's sentences (sentences in Anon's post):
I have this rule that guarantees me such and such."
"I have this rule, which guarantees me such and such."
Anon's sentences (sentences in Anon's post):
I have this rule that guarantees me such and such."
"I have this rule, which guarantees me such and such."
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AnonymousCan it be that here the use of "which" refers to the "fact" that lies behind "having" the rules and, thus, it requires third person "-s"?It can be. And it is.
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Thank you all! This was very helpful, although I have to confess the matter remains somewhat unclear to me. For some reason the example sentences always make perfect sense but as I start reading someone else's text, meanings aren't so easy to determine anymore.
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