who likes fishing?

Question

In the following sentence:"He is the son of his father who likes fishing".who likes fishing, the son or the father?In general case:... A of B + adjective clausewhich part will be modified by the clause? A or B?Thanks.

Inchoateknowledge · Accepted Answer

who = father

Marius Hancu · Answer

Incho is right. Still, I'd avoid such messy sentences.

BarbaraPA · Answer

The construtcion is odd - it makes it sound like you need to identify which father by adding "the one who likes fishing." Of course that doesn't make logical sense - but neither does saying "He is the son of his father." That's like saying "I am the wife of my husband." Of course he is. It's so redudant as to not make sense.

We do have an expression "He is is father's son" - which means is very much like his father. Perhaps that is what you were thinking of?

If there are two children have been talking about, and one likes fishing and the other likes hunting, you can identify which one you mean by saying "The son who likes fishing." (Although that's not a complete sentence.)

AVim · Answer

Thanks for you guys' reply. Maybe I expressed my problem unclearly, sorry.

The original 'fishing' sentence is not real, I just wanna say: there's ambiguous meaning when using adj clauses. e.g.

"Universal Declaration of Human Rights which ..."
which part should the 'which' modify? 'Declaration'? or 'Human Rights'? Generally, we'll choose the part of 'Human Rights', but I do meet a sentence:
"the namespaces of any enclosing functions, which are searched starting with the nearest enclosing scope". in which the 'namespaces' (not the 'functions') is modified by the which clause. (does the comma here matter?)

So I'm confused, in the form:
'A of B which ... '
which part should be modified? A or B or by the context meaning of the sentence?

Thanks

Marius Hancu · Answer

I think you need to learn what restrictive and non-restrictive clauses are:

(missing image)

http://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/lrw/grinker/LwtaClauses__Restrictive_and_Nonrest.htm

AVim · Answer

Thanks, Marius. But I don't think the problem has anything to do with restrictive clause.

Please considering the following 3 sentences:
1) Can't you look at the book of the boy which is behind you?
In this sentence, the 'which' refers to 'the book', right?

2) Can't you look at the book of the boy who is behind you?
In this sentence, the 'who' refers to 'the boy', ok?

3) Can't you look at the book of the boy that is behind you?
Well, in this sentence, what does the 'that' refers to? 'the book' or 'the boy'?

Among the above 3 sentences, which one is correct?

Cool Breeze · Answer

AVimThanks, Marius. But I don't think the problem has anything to do with restrictive clause. Please considering the following 3 sentences: 1) Can't you look at the book of the boy which is behind you? In this sentence, the 'which' refers to 'the book', right? 2) Can't you look at the book of the boy who is behind you? In this sentence, the 'who' refers to 'the boy', ok? 3) Can't you look at the book of the boy that is behind you? Well, in this sentence, what does the 'that' refers to? 'the book' or 'the boy'? Among the above 3 sentences, which one is correct?

Hi AVim
All the sentences are correct. No. 3 is ambiguous.

Cheers
CB

AVim · Answer

> All the sentences are correct. No. 3 is ambiguous.

Hi Breeze, do you implied that's the problem of English Language?

Cool Breeze · Answer

AVim> All the sentences are correct. No. 3 is ambiguous. Hi Breeze, do you implied that's the problem of English Language?

Hi AVim

All languages that I know of are somewhat inexact and ambiguous. English is more inexact than many other Germanic or Romance languages, which is a logical consequence of its extremely simple grammatical structure. I wouldn't call that a problem, though. There are linguists and scholars who think this quality adds to the richness of English. When an official document or written agreement is drawn up, it is possible to avoid known issues that may cause ambiguity.

For instance, since only is a problematic word in this respect, other words and expressions can be used instead of it: merely and solely, for example. English has a very large vocabulary.

Cheers
CB

who likes fishing?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions