Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[fw]

I�m interested in the restricted vs. non-restricted use of the relative pronoun.

My friend and I talked about how to use the �none of which�� pattern the other day, and he insisted this pattern be only used in non-restricted use, not in restricted use. I didn�t agree with him.

Let me take one example pair.

1. They showed her several dresses, none of which she liked.
2. They showed her several dresses none of which she liked.

I understand #1(in non-restricted use) is good English in many situations. As for #2(in restricted use), my friend insists #2 is ungrammatical and unnatural English, but I feel #2 is also possible in some situations.

For example: Kate�s elder sisters had many dresses and they promised her to give her one of them when they grew up. She knew she liked just one of them and she didn�t like the other dresses. She grew up, and she went to her sisters one day. They showed her several dresses none of which she liked. They knew which dress she liked and didn�t want to give it to her.

What do you think?

[nicewitch]

Well, I'm turning that in my head and it seems to me that you are right.
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