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Pructus Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

"that" refers to....


Hi, Avangi and all….





This post is as a sequence to the post,







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This finding sheds new light on the aging process that may allow science to eventually delay the inexorable process of aging.



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In this sentence “that “ seems to refer to “new light”, not to “aging process”. So in this case, can we say that the theory that relative pronoun refers to the closest noun does not apply?



then can we say that in English grammar, what the relative pronoun refers to, is decided by the context, and there is no set rule?
  

Top answer

You have it exactly right. I had intended to add some examples of this type to the other thread, but it slipped my mind. Perhaps you also noticed that the clause is treated as "essential" (no commas), which is contrary to the observation I first made in the other thread.

— Avangi

  • You have it exactly right.
  • I had intended to add some examples of this type to the other thread, but it slipped my mind.
  • Perhaps you also noticed that the clause is treated as "essential" (no commas), which is contrary to the observation I first made in the other thread.
  • I think CJ's wording was meant to allow for exceptions.
  • Edit.
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2 Answers
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You have it exactly right. I had intended to add some examples of this type to the other thread, but it slipped my mind.

Perhaps you also noticed that the clause is treated as "essential" (no commas), which is contrary to the observation I first made in the other thread.

I think CJ's wording was meant to allow for exceptions.
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Thanks, Avangi!!

What a coincidence!!

I am happy that we three share the same birthday....
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