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Anonymous Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

Why Is This Ungrammatical?

She doesn't like the man, who is too talkative.


I don't see why main sentences with negatives disallow the following nonrestrictive relative clauses.

  

Top answer

This is apparently because it makes the sentence is ambiguous. For example, the given sentence could mean either of the following: She doesn't like any man who is too talkative. She doesn't like this particular man because he's too talkative.

  • This is apparently because it makes the sentence is ambiguous.
  • For example, the given sentence could mean either of the following: She doesn't like any man who is too talkative.
  • She doesn't like this particular man because he's too talkative.
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3 Answers
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This is apparently because it makes the sentence is ambiguous. For example, the given sentence could mean either of the following:


She doesn't like any man who is too talkative.


She doesn't like this particular man because he's too talkative.

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It's in the same category with negatives followed by because clauses.

She didn't marry him because he's rich.
( She didn't marry him because she doesn't like rich men.)
She didn't marry him because he's rich.
(She married him for a different reason.)

CJ

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It is not ungrammatical. A few minor modifications make it pass the logic sniff test, too.

She doesn't like that man, who is too talkative for her sensibilities.

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