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Does "that" and "Which" always modify the subject right before it?

soimba0413

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14 Jun 2016, 12:29

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Does "that" and "Which" always modify the subject right before it? In other word, modify the closest subject?

I used this rule to get many questions right, but in some other questions, it's not correct, because the subject right before it is not "LOGICAL",
and thus, which or that would seek another logical subject.

So the "closest“ rule is not a grammar rule but rather an "experience rule"?

------In addition

How do I know when to use "Which, that"
And how do I know when to use verb-ing?

For example:
The plane flies from east to west, having enough fuel.
The plane flies from east to west, which has enough fuel.
The plane flies from east to west, that has enough fuel.

Which is right?
Very confused! Please help! THx!

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soimba0413

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15 Jun 2016, 10:48

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Does anyone know...plz help :roll:

hanandaner

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16 Jun 2016, 20:40

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I believe which can modify a subject+prep phrase. In that case the second one will be apt.

Here that is unnecessary.

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GMATPill

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17 Jun 2016, 11:20

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soimba0413

Does "that" and "Which" always modify the subject right before it? In other word, modify the closest subject?

I used this rule to get many questions right, but in some other questions, it's not correct, because the subject right before it is not "LOGICAL",
and thus, which or that would seek another logical subject.

So the "closest“ rule is not a grammar rule but rather an "experience rule"?

------In addition

How do I know when to use "Which, that"
And how do I know when to use verb-ing？

For example:
The plane flies from east to west, having enough fuel.
The plane flies from east to west, which has enough fuel.
The plane flies from east to west, that has enough fuel.

Which is right?
Very confused! Please help! THx!

Hi soimba0413,

We have an entire write up on this topic here: https://www.gmatpill.com/ebook/GMATPill- ... -promo.pdf

Structure plays a critical first step role, but sometimes you will need to examine the meaning in order to figure out which phrase is being modified. It is not always the case that the phrase only modifies the word immediately preceding the comma (though this is most common).

soimba0413

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07 Jul 2016, 14:13

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GMATPill

soimba0413

Does "that" and "Which" always modify the subject right before it? In other word, modify the closest subject?

I used this rule to get many questions right, but in some other questions, it's not correct, because the subject right before it is not "LOGICAL",
and thus, which or that would seek another logical subject.

So the "closest“ rule is not a grammar rule but rather an "experience rule"?

------In addition

How do I know when to use "Which, that"
And how do I know when to use verb-ing？

For example:
The plane flies from east to west, having enough fuel.
The plane flies from east to west, which has enough fuel.
The plane flies from east to west, that has enough fuel.

Which is right?
Very confused! Please help! THx!

If one answer makes more logical sense and the other makes more grammatical sense, which one is preferred on GMAT?

Thanks

GMATE1

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04 Mar 2021, 04:19

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soimba0413

Does "that" and "Which" always modify the subject right before it? In other word, modify the closest subject?

I am assuming you have already finished your test but for anyone else wondering about this I can recommend the article by egmat (it comes with examples):
noun-modifiers-can-modify-slightly-far-away-noun-135868.html

That can be used in different ways but from your question it seems like you are interested in "that" and "which as noun modifiers.

Generally, for noun modifiers the rule is that a noun and a modifier should touch each other (i.e. be right next to each other). However there are the following three exceptions of thing which can be placed between a noun and it's modifier:
1. Modifiers of the SAME noun
2. the word "and"
3. "linking verbs"

1. Modifiers of the SAME noun:
Here is an example: Which sentence is correct?
a) The committee choose Mr. Smith of Left Block, who was the most experienced member.
b) The commitee choose Mr. Smith in the last meeting, who was the most experienced member.

The correct sentence is a! "of Left Block" is a modifier which modifies the same noun as "who". Therefore the modifier is correctly placed inbetween the noun "Mr. Smith" and it's modifier "who.
Sentence b is incorrect as "in the last meeting", does not modify Mr. Smith. Therefore it should be placed in the beginning of the sentence, so that the noun "Mr. Smith" and the noun modifier "who" touch each other.

I am assuming you have already finished your test but for anyone else wondering about this I can also recommend the article by egmat (it comes with examples):
noun-modifiers-can-modify-slightly-far-away-noun-135868.html

Archived Topic

Hi there,

This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.

Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum

Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.

Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!