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GainRain Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Scope
"This time we received no expert advice as was available last time."
"This time we received no expert advice, as was available last time."
"This time we received no expert advice which was available last time."
"This time we received no expert advice, which was available last time."
How correct are these? How do I tell or "as" and "which" refer to "expert advice", "no expert advice", or "This time we received no expert advice"?
"This time we received no expert advice, as was available last time."
"This time we received no expert advice which was available last time."
"This time we received no expert advice, which was available last time."
How correct are these? How do I tell or "as" and "which" refer to "expert advice", "no expert advice", or "This time we received no expert advice"?
Top answer
These are correct: This time we received no expert advice, as was available last time. This time we received no expert advice, which was available last time. -- 'Available' is an adjective; it refers to a noun antecedent, and 'advice' is the only semantically reasonable choice as well as being the nearest noun.
- These are correct: This time we received no expert advice, as was available last time.
- This time we received no expert advice, which was available last time.
- -- 'Available' is an adjective; it refers to a noun antecedent, and 'advice' is the only semantically reasonable choice as well as being the nearest noun.
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8 Answers
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These are correct:
This time we received no expert advice, as was available last time.
This time we received no expert advice, which was available last time.
How do I tell or "as" and "which" refer to "expert advice", "no expert advice", or "This time we received no expert advice"?-- 'Available' is an adjective; it refers to a noun antecedent, and 'advice'
This time we received no expert advice, as was available last time.
This time we received no expert advice, which was available last time.
How do I tell or "as" and "which" refer to "expert advice", "no expert advice", or "This time we received no expert advice"?-- 'Available' is an adjective; it refers to a noun antecedent, and 'advice'
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Thank you for your advice, Mr Micawber.
So, for these:
"At the hospital we received no expert advice, as was usual."
"At the hospital we received no expert advice, which was usual."
it is ambiguous as to what "as" and "which" refer to?
So, for these:
"At the hospital we received no expert advice, as was usual."
"At the hospital we received no expert advice, which was usual."
it is ambiguous as to what "as" and "which" refer to?
00
I don't think so; however, be aware that neither of your sentences is natural, which in itself adds to any ambiguity. The natural expression:
As usual, at the hospital we received no expert advice. = never any expert advice
At the hospital we received no expert advice, which we usually do. = before, we got expert advice
As usual, at the hospital we received no expert advice. = never any expert advice
At the hospital we received no expert advice, which we usually do. = before, we got expert advice
00
I have a better example:
"Today at work Peter did not follow his usual routine, going off to lunch before everyone else."
Is "going off to lunch....." = "his usual routine",
or is "going off to lunch....." = "did not follow his usual routine"
?
"Today at work Peter did not follow his usual routine, going off to lunch before everyone else."
Is "going off to lunch....." = "his usual routine",
or is "going off to lunch....." = "did not follow his usual routine"
?
00
Who knows? You are composing sentences intended to be ambiguous. What is the point in that?
00
So,
"Today at work Peter did not follow his usual routine, going off to lunch before everyone else."
was poorly written.
"Today at work Peter did not follow his usual routine, going off to lunch before everyone else."
was poorly written.
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