Sentence correctness

Question

HiPlease tell me what I think is correct.He has a scheme of his own which he thinks preferable to that of any other person.I came across this sentence in a book. I think that there is a need for a verb—is—between thinks and preferable.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

The verb could be used, but it isn't necessary in British English.

CB

CalifJim · Answer

vsureshHe has a scheme of his own which he thinks preferable to that of any other person.

The sentence is correct.

The verb 'think' can occur in an object-complement construction. That's a noun or adjective after a direct object that predicates something of the object.

When you relativize the direct object, you have these.

the baby which we named Helen
the performance which the contest judges are finding exciting
the scheme which he thinks preferable

In the case of the last one you have an alternate view, starting from a different construction where there is a full clause after 'thinks', which has a subject (the scheme) and complement (preferable) with a linking verb between (is)

He thinks (that) the scheme is preferable.

If you relativize the subject of the subordinate clause here, you get a slightly different structure:

the scheme that he thinks is preferable

So 'think' can occur in two different but similar grammatical constructions. That's why you can have two versions — one with 'is' and one without 'is'.

CJ

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