rainbooow wrote:
Hi, guys!
I have been scrutinizing topics regarding modifiers, and have stumbled across sentential relative clauses. For reference:
Sentential relative clauses, usually introduced by
“which”, are very common in formal and academic writing, and should be used in preference to conjoining clauses with
“and so” or
“and that”. Such clauses will refer to more than a single word in the preceding text; they can modify an entire clause or even a series of clauses.
No: The world is getting smaller and smaller, and that means that people understand each other better.Yes: The world is getting smaller and smaller, which means that people understand each other better.No: Business meetings are now held in English to avoid misunderstandings and that makes it possible for those in Europe to make million dollar deals with Asia in just a few minutes.Yes: Business meetings are now held in English to avoid misunderstandings, which makes it possible for people in Europe to make million-dollar deals with Asia in just a few minutes.Charlie didn't get the job in administration,
which really surprised his friends.
Charlie didn't get the job in administration, and he didn't even apply for the Dean's position,
which really surprised his friends.
Are they tested on the GMAT? Or it is enough just to know -ing modifiers and ordinary relative clauses (that and which touch rule) ?
Thank you !!!
All your "yes" sentences would be wrong in the GMAT.
"which" refers to the last eligible noun, cannot modify the whole clause.
Take this for example:
Charlie didn't get the job in administration, and he didn't even apply for the Dean's position,
which really surprised his friends. Here you are saying that the Dean's position surprised his friends <=== not correct.
Hope it's clear