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hiromi525
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 166
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:12 am Post subject: which |
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Please take a look at the passage taken from a novel.
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The shower was horrific. It made a high-pitched squealing noise like one of those dog-training whistles,
remaining steadfastly lukewarm until just before I stepped out into the freezing-cold bathroom, at which point the water turned scalding. |
What is which indicating grammaticaly?
Is it possible to replace which with that? or simply paraphraseing at this point?
I've been having a trouble understanding the usage of which.
Last edited by hiromi525 on Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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pinenut
Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 165
Location: Illinois, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:23 am Post subject: |
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'which' is used as a relative pronoun, whoes antecedent is the whole clause before it.
In this case, you can't replace it with 'that'.
Another example:
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| I was told my work was unsatisfactory, at which point I submitted my resignation. |
I was told my work was unsatisfactory and at this point I submitted my resignation. <-- I suppose you can use 'at this point' here, but it does not convey the same nuance. |
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hiromi525
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 166
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject: which |
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Hello, pinenut
Thank to your explanation, I figured out this usage.
We travelled together as far as Paris, at which place we parted company.
In this case, whose antecedent is Paris and I can paraphrase like-
We travelled together as far as Paris and at this place we parted company.
Did I say that right? |
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