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Katieb Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Why can't I use 'whichever' in this sentence?
My friend is an ESL student and she presented me with this question:
Brainstorming is simply producing a set of ideas in response to a given problem. When brainstorming, you collect all the ideas you can think of _____, directly or indirectly.
a. that relate to the topic b. whichever relate to the topic
She chose b and since I am bad at explaining grammar, I don't know how to explain WHY whichever doesn't work.
Brainstorming is simply producing a set of ideas in response to a given problem. When brainstorming, you collect all the ideas you can think of _____, directly or indirectly.
a. that relate to the topic b. whichever relate to the topic
She chose b and since I am bad at explaining grammar, I don't know how to explain WHY whichever doesn't work.
Top answer
Hello, katieb—and welcome to English Forums. 'Whichever' doesn't work for one reason because it would be a non-restrictive pronoun.
- Hello, katieb—and welcome to English Forums.
- 'Whichever' doesn't work for one reason because it would be a non-restrictive pronoun.
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2 Answers
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Hello, katieb—and welcome to English Forums.
'Whichever' doesn't work for one reason because it would be a non-restrictive pronoun.
'Whichever' doesn't work for one reason because it would be a non-restrictive pronoun.
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Hi Katieb;
In simpler language, there are the relative pronouns "which" and "that."
That is used to introduce a clause that defines, limits, or restricts the antecedent.
You cannot remove the clause without affecting the meaning. It is not set off by commas.
The students that hand in their homework early will get extra credit.
"Which" introduces a c
In simpler language, there are the relative pronouns "which" and "that."
That is used to introduce a clause that defines, limits, or restricts the antecedent.
You cannot remove the clause without affecting the meaning. It is not set off by commas.
The students that hand in their homework early will get extra credit.
"Which" introduces a c
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