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Pb03 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Which
Hi everyone,
In the following sentences below, what do you think the subject of the last sentence is?
Just "It" or the words "which labeled one as civilized and as Chinese"?
I'm confused whether the "which" part is used just as a relative pronoun that links "blood kinsip or ancestry" or used as a real subject of the sentence(in this case, "It" is a false subject and I'm wondering that this usage is correct. )?
Usually the usage of relative pronoun and the usage of "real subject and false subject" have seemed clear. But in this case it's so confusing and I'm in need of your help.
hoping your kind comments...
pb
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This homogeneity is due not merely to a common cultural tie, but also to the particular kind of culture which constitutes that tie. Something in the Chinese tradition recognized as civilized those who conformed to certain ethical standards and social customs. It was the fitting into Confucian patterns of conduct and of family and community life rather than blood kinship or ancestry which labeled one as civilized and as Chinese.
In the following sentences below, what do you think the subject of the last sentence is?
Just "It" or the words "which labeled one as civilized and as Chinese"?
I'm confused whether the "which" part is used just as a relative pronoun that links "blood kinsip or ancestry" or used as a real subject of the sentence(in this case, "It" is a false subject and I'm wondering that this usage is correct. )?
Usually the usage of relative pronoun and the usage of "real subject and false subject" have seemed clear. But in this case it's so confusing and I'm in need of your help.
hoping your kind comments...
pb
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This homogeneity is due not merely to a common cultural tie, but also to the particular kind of culture which constitutes that tie. Something in the Chinese tradition recognized as civilized those who conformed to certain ethical standards and social customs. It was the fitting into Confucian patterns of conduct and of family and community life rather than blood kinship or ancestry which labeled one as civilized and as Chinese.
Top answer
Pb03 It was the fitting into Confucian patterns of conduct and of family and community life rather than blood kinship or ancestry which labeled one as civilized and as Chinese. The sentence is correct and your analysis is right. It is a preparatory subject or a dummy subject and which is a relative pronoun - at least in my terminology!
- Pb03 It was the fitting into Confucian patterns of conduct and of family and community life rather than blood kinship or ancestry which labeled one as civilized and as Chinese.
- The sentence is correct and your analysis is right.
- It is a preparatory subject or a dummy subject and which is a relative pronoun - at least in my terminology!
- It is perhaps more common to use that instead of which in sentences like this.
- This structure is correct English and is used to emphasize what follows the preparatory it: It was yesterday that the boys broke the window.
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1 Answers
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Pb03It was the fitting into Confucian patterns of conduct and of family and community life rather than blood kinship or ancestry which labeled one as civilized and as Chinese.The sentence is correct and your analysis is right. It is a preparatory subject or a dummy subject and which is a relative pronoun - at least in my terminology! It is pe
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