Adjective clauses for a noun with prepositional phrase

Oldest

Best Reply

Author

Message

Manager

Joined: 09 Apr 2012

Posts: 61

Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 7 [0], given: 25

Adjective clauses for a noun with prepositional phrase [#permalink]

08 Oct 2012, 18:53

The age of the tiger, which lives in sunderban forest, is 15 years.
The age of the tiger, which is 15 years, is a very small number.

The table of contents, which appear on the first page of a book, is 25 pages long.

First two sentences are correct since the meaning is conveyed properly.
What about the third sentence? Is it correct? I feel that "which" may refer either to contents or table.

Can somebody please clarify this?
Are there any general rules which i can use to spot the pronoun antecedent ambiguity? (Just a blind rule if i am helpless over something in the exam).

Senior Manager

Joined: 15 Sep 2009

Posts: 272

GMAT 1: 750 Q V

Followers: 5

Kudos [?]: 36 [0], given: 6

Re: Adjective clauses for a noun with prepositional phrase [#permalink]

11 Oct 2012, 11:48

Original example: The table of contents, which appear on the first page of a book, is 25 pages long.

When the relative pronoun "which" appears after a comma, it can modify a noun or a noun phrase. The context and intended meaning of the sentence will determine, in a clear manner, whether "which" modifies "table of contents" or just "contents." In the given example above, the sentence will not make sense if "which" modifies "contents" because that would mean that "contents" (rather than "table of contents") appear on the first page of a book. The right thing is of course that "the table of contents appears on the first page of a book.

We can also use subject-verb agree to see why the above sentence is wrong. The plural verb "appear" is a wrong match for the singular noun phrase "table of contents."

The right sentence should thus read:

The table of contents, which appears on the first page of a book, is 25 pages long.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Der alte Fritz.

Posted from my mobile device

_________________

+1 Kudos me - I'm half Irish, half Prussian.

Re: Adjective clauses for a noun with prepositional phrase [#permalink] 11 Oct 2012, 11:48

		Similar topics	Author	Replies	Last post
Similar Topics:		A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, a noun or	eyunni	4	30 Oct 2007, 14:50
	2	Use of Comma in Adjective Clause	raviram80	1	06 Mar 2012, 12:48
		Pronouns referring to a noun in a prepositional phrase	GetThisDone	3	21 Mar 2012, 22:19
	2	Phrase OR Clause?	yodeepak	3	09 Apr 2012, 01:21
	4	The Prepositional Phrase Recognize a prepositional phrase	Marcab	1	02 Dec 2012, 10:40

Adjective clauses for a noun with prepositional phrase

Moderator: mohater

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources

GMAT ® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council ® (GMAC ®). GMAT Club's website has not been reviewed or endorsed by GMAC.

GMAT Courses

Admissions Consulting

Adjective clauses for a noun with prepositional phrase

Adjective clauses for a noun with prepositional phrase

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources