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NL888 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
The subject of the clause "what you fear may be a rabid animal"?
Does " by what you fear may be a rabid animal" mean " by that what you fear may be a rabid animal"? So "that" can serve as the subject of "may be"?
Context:
However, if you or someone you know has been attacked by what you fear may be a rabid animal, thoroughly wash the wounds with soap and water. Then, contact your local animal control office. You will probably also want to contact your state or county health department for the proper procedure and guidelines for your area. If you are outside the U.S., wash the wound and try to get to a local hospital or emergency clinic for treatment and advice.
Context:
However, if you or someone you know has been attacked by what you fear may be a rabid animal, thoroughly wash the wounds with soap and water. Then, contact your local animal control office. You will probably also want to contact your state or county health department for the proper procedure and guidelines for your area. If you are outside the U.S., wash the wound and try to get to a local hospital or emergency clinic for treatment and advice.
Top answer
NL888 " by that what you fear may be a rabid animal"? Close, but that is not grammatical. It means “…by that which…” or “…by something that…”.
- NL888 " by that what you fear may be a rabid animal"?
- Close, but that is not grammatical.
- It means “…by that which…” or “…by something that…”.
- What is the subject of may be a rabid animal.
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4 Answers
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NL888" by that what you fear may be a rabid animal"?Close, but that is not grammatical. It means “…by that which…” or “…by something that…”.
What is the subject of may be a rabid animal.
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NL888what that you fear may be a rabid animal.Still not right, sorry. You can't have the relative pronoun that because what itself is a relative word, more specifically a fused relative word. It's ‘fused’ because it is simultaneously head of the noun phrase (the antecedent) and subject of the may clause embedded within the relative
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NL888if ... someone you know has been attacked by what you fear may be a rabid animal,~ if someone you know has been attacked by an animal, and you [ fear / are afraid] that the animal is rabid,
Think of 'what' as 'something that'.
Compare:
by a rabid animal
by what is a rabid animal ~ by something that is a rabid
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