Same relative pronouns?

Question

Hi. Are the underlined pronouns "which" relative pronouns for both of them or do they have different grammatical functions? (I am not sure the phrase "grammatical functions" is the right term for the names like "relative pronoun," though)

He found his way to a house in which was a cat sleeping peacefully on a sofa in its porch.

It took a long time to arrive at his friend's house, in which was a cat meowing constantly.

He went into a house, in which he placed a new desk in the middle of of the livingroom the previous day.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Yes, they are relatives, but the 3rd shouldn't have a comma and should read 'had placed'.

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousHe went into a house, in which he placed a new desk in the middle of of the livingroom the previous day.

I go with Mr M. One additional note: living room is two words like all in which the first word ends ing: swimming pool.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, both of for your help.

I wrote this sentence:

He went into a house, in which he placed a new desk in the middle of of the livingroom the previous day.

And the above sentence is the third sentence of the three sentences I wrote as part of the original post (in this tread) I wrote.

As to your response, yes, I think there should be a comma since what follows the phrase "in which" pretty much makes itself restrictive to the main part of the sentence "He went into a house" by bringing the fact of his placing a new desk in the middle of the livingroom the day mentioned to light within the main context of his going into a house that he did his placing of the mentioned desk in. (I am not sure I have written this correctly to reflect what I wanted to say, though)

Anyway, as to the use of the past perfect tense "had placed," as you have said in your response, I think it could be the case of optional but it being something that is strongly suggested. What do yo think? I think I have seen plenty of sentences like this: "He had gone into a house the previos day to check out the condition." (Although, unlike the sentence at the top, which seems to have the past perfect tense in what seems to be a subordinate clause, this sentence has the past perfect tense in the main clause.)

Thank you for your anticipated help in this matter.

Mister Micawber · Answer

1-- Yes, it is restrictive; it defines the house. Therefore, NO comma.

2-- The past perfect is all but requiredy. Simple past confuses the reader as to the timing of the placement until the very end of the sentence ('the previous day').

Same relative pronouns?

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