The habit of biting nails = the habit which is biting nails?

Question

Teachers, I've got an appositive phrase: He's got into the habit of biting his nails when he's nervous., and this got me thinking. I read on some grammar book that appositives are a shortened form of relative clauses and so I assumed that 'the habit of biting his nails..' must be the shortened form of 'the habit which is biting his nails' or another form of it like 'which is' turns into the preposition 'of'. Teachers, am I correct assuming so? I would appreciate any help! Thanks so much!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Bamtori I assumed that 'the habit of biting his nails..' must be the shortened form of 'the habit which is biting his nails' or another form of it like 'which is' turns into the preposition 'of'.

Yes. I think you are on the right track. The preposition "of" often signals that what follows "of" is a sort of definition or explanation of the word that precedes "of". Nevertheless, I would not consider the "of" phrase to be, strictly speaking, 'the shortened form' of the relative clause. Rather, the "of" phrase and the relative clause are better thought of as alternate ways of grammaticalizing the same idea. In these cases, however, the relative clause is a bit awkward, so it should be considered only a way of roughly paraphrasing the meaning of the "of" phrase.

CJ

Bamtori · Answer

Sorry for my late response, and thanks so much for your excellent answer Jim!^

[/quote]Rather, the "of" phrase and the relative clause are better thought of as alternate ways of grammaticalizing the same idea.[/quote]
Jim, would it be okay if I assumed that you meant that the habit is(=) biting nails by the same idea here?

[/quote]In these cases, however, the relative clause is a bit awkward, so it should be considered only a way of roughly paraphrasing the meaning of the "of" phrase.CJ[/quote] Would you explain this another way? I don't think I understand this phrase. Thank you so much!

CalifJim · Answer

He's got into the habit of biting his nails when he's nervous.

Bamtori
Rather, the "of" phrase and the relative clause are better thought of as alternate ways of grammaticalizing the same idea.
Jim, would it be okay if I assumed that you meant that the habit is(=) biting nails by the same idea here?

More simply put, the "of" phrase (of biting his nails when he's nervous) and the relative clause (which is biting his nails when he's nervous) are different ways of saying the same thing.

Bamtori
In these cases, however, the relative clause is a bit awkward, so it should be considered only a way of roughly paraphrasing the meaning of the "of" phrase.CJ
Would you explain this another way?

OK. Here's another way to say that:

Don't use the relative clause (which is biting his nails when he's nervous). It sounds bad.
Use the "of" phrase instead (of biting his nails when he's nervous).

But it is OK if you use that relative clause as a way of telling yourself the meaning of the "of" phrase, just when you are studying English by yourself and trying to understand the meaning.

CJ

Bamtori · Answer

Even if they mean the same thing, you can't use the relative clause since it sounds awkward, am I correct? Anyway, thanks so much, Jim. You're best! ^^

The habit of biting nails = the habit which is biting nails?

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