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mohit7
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that 31 Oct 2013, 11:00
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that coffee was equal to wine, which was banned in the Koran.

Actually, I have a generic question - are there more than one antecedent for the relative pronoun "which" in the above sentence? Is it guaranteed that it is "wine" which was banned in the Koran OR is it not clear whether the "coffee" or the "wine" was banned in Koran?

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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that 31 Oct 2013, 12:47
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mohit7
In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that coffee was equal to wine, which was banned in the Koran.

Actually, I have a generic question - are there more than one antecedent for the relative pronoun "which" in the above sentence? Is it guaranteed that it is "wine" which was banned in the Koran OR is it not clear whether the "coffee" or the "wine" was banned in Koran?
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Hi Mohit7,

When we use the relative pronoun 'which' with a comma , then 'which' is supposed to stand for the noun immediate before it.
In this case the noun preceding which is WINE. So which has to ideally represent Wine.

HTH
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that 31 Oct 2013, 12:54
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mohit7
In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that coffee was equal to wine, which was banned in the Koran.

Actually, I have a generic question - are there more than one antecedent for the relative pronoun "which" in the above sentence? Is it guaranteed that it is "wine" which was banned in the Koran OR is it not clear whether the "coffee" or the "wine" was banned in Koran?

Hi Mohit7,

When we use the relative pronoun 'which' with a comma , then 'which' is supposed to stand for the noun immediate before it.
In this case the noun preceding which is WINE. So which has to ideally represent Wine.

HTH
Show more
thanks a lot for the help dentobizz!
So is the sentence correct or it has error (ambiguity - i guess it wants to convey that coffee was banned in Koran)
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that 31 Oct 2013, 12:59
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mohit7
In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that coffee was equal to wine, which was banned in the Koran.

Actually, I have a generic question - are there more than one antecedent for the relative pronoun "which" in the above sentence? Is it guaranteed that it is "wine" which was banned in the Koran OR is it not clear whether the "coffee" or the "wine" was banned in Koran?

Hi Mohit7,

When we use the relative pronoun 'which' with a comma , then 'which' is supposed to stand for the noun immediate before it.
In this case the noun preceding which is WINE. So which has to ideally represent Wine.

HTH
thanks a lot for the help dentobizz!
So is the sentence correct or it has error (ambiguity - i guess it wants to convey that coffee was banned in Koran)
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What I have stated above is the general rule for the use of 'which' .
What is the original intent of the author can only be determined -if we know that this sentence is correct or if we compare it to other options.
what is the source of this problem?
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that Updated on: 31 Oct 2013, 13:26
Originally posted by mohit7 on 31 Oct 2013, 13:07.
Last edited by mohit7 on 31 Oct 2013, 13:26, edited 1 time in total.
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What I have stated above is the general rule for the use of 'which' .
What is the original intent of the author can only be determined -if we know that this sentence is correct or if we compare it to other options.
what is the source of this problem?
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This isn't a problem actually - a friend of mine cited this as an example for a modifier error wherein "which" has more than one antecedent (tea and coffee). Is he right?
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that 31 Oct 2013, 13:21
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mohit7

What I have stated above is the general rule for the use of 'which' .
What is the original intent of the author can only be determined -if we know that this sentence is correct or if we compare it to other options.
what is the source of this problem?
Show more

Quote:
This isn't a problem actually - a friend of mine cited this as an example for a modifier error wherein "which" has more than one antecedent (tea and coffee). Is he right?
Show more

If he intents to represent wine by using 'which' he is correct but if he intends to represent coffee by using which he is incorrect.
The meaning/intent is the MAIN thing,grammar rules are used just to communicate the meaning in a concise and unambiguous manner
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that 31 Oct 2013, 13:25
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Quote:

If he intents to represent wine by using 'which' he is correct but if he intends to represent coffee by using which he is incorrect.
The meaning/intent is the MAIN thing,grammar rules are used just to communicate the meaning in a concise and unambiguous manner
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thanks a lot dentobizz - that was clear :)
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In 1511 the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg proclaimed that 31 Oct 2013, 13:41
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dentobizz
Quote:

If he intents to represent wine by using 'which' he is correct but if he intends to represent coffee by using which he is incorrect.
The meaning/intent is the MAIN thing,grammar rules are used just to communicate the meaning in a concise and unambiguous manner

thanks a lot dentobizz - that was clear :)
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More on 'which'
lets-destroy-og-started-with-og-144702-80.html#p1161786
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More on 'which'
/forum/lets-destroy-og-started-with-og-144702-80.html#p1161786
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thanks a lot buddy! a good share!

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