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Enigma
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
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 Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 5:26 am Post subject: Relative Clauses Question |
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I'm teaching relative clauses to an intermediate adult class, and one of the higher students asked me a question which I couldn't give her a good answer for. I'm going to do a Google search, but I thought I'd also put it up here in case someone could help.
We were looking at something from the Grammar in Use - Intermediate textbook (Unit 93), and here are two examples it provided:
Everything (that) they said was true.
I gave her all the money (that) I had.
I understand that you can't use which in these sentences, but I have no idea why. Is there a rule for this?
Thanks |
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Tropic of Cancer
Joined: 28 Sep 2010
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 6:01 am Post subject: |
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| Which is used to express nonessential information. If coherence is not lost with the omission of the clause, use which. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Relative Clauses Question |
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| Enigma wrote: |
I'm teaching relative clauses to an intermediate adult class, and one of the higher students asked me a question which I couldn't give her a good answer for. I'm going to do a Google search, but I thought I'd also put it up here in case someone could help.
We were looking at something from the Grammar in Use - Intermediate textbook (Unit 93), and here are two examples it provided:
Everything (that) they said was true.
I gave her all the money (that) I had.
I understand that you can't use which in these sentences, but I have no idea why. Is there a rule for this?
Thanks |
There is a bit of controversy over this topic..but yes...there is a rule.
In general, most prescriptive grammarians would suggest that it is in good form not to use 'which' in purely restrictive clauses...no chance of being non-restrictive.
Both the clauses you cite are purely restrictive relative clauses.
In non-restrictive clauses, use 'which' only.
In other words...don't use 'that' in non-restrictive clauses.
There are exceptions to every rule, but if you are looking for a simple answer to give your students, then this is about as simple...in general...as it gets.
Relative clauses - restrictive - use that / (which) - see note below
non-restrictive - use which
Note: Using 'which' in restrictive relative clauses is perfectly acceptable when the clause itself can be either restrictive or non restrictive depending on the meaning. In such cases, 'which' is just more formal than 'that' when used in restrictive clauses. The use of commas is what determines restrictiveness in such cases.
R-Restrictive - no commas
NR-Non-restrictive - commas
a)The accident which happened on Monday was his fault. - R
b)The accident, which happened on Monday, was his fault. - NR
In a) maybe there were other accidents he was in...but only the one on Monday was his fault...'that' would be an acceptable alternative to 'which' in this case...and many prefer it....some suggest 'that' is required...but again...it isn't...not yet anyway.
In b) the reader is led to understand that only one accident occurred.
Sorry for the long explanation...relative clauses are fairly complex animals....and continuously evolving.  |
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Enigma
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies.
They allowed me to show my students how to simplify use of the relative pronouns. |
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