Noun modifiers and under what scenarios do they "skip" ?

Question

I want clarification on when is it okay for noun modifiers ( like '  , which  ' ) to skip the preceding noun to modify something beyond ?

Are there any rules here ?

I know one exception is when the nouns preceding the modifier are part of a prepositional-phrase ? But I do see sometimes that there are exceptions to this rule too ?

Thanks in advance.

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi  asgopala , in fact, this is not true;  which  can definitely modify nouns that are part of a preceding prepositional-phrase.

For example:

The commission proposed  that funding for development of the  park ,  which  could be open to the public early next year, be  obtained through a local bond issue . 
- Notice that  which  is modifying  park , which is in the prepositional-phrase  of the park .

Our book    EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana    discusses  modifier issues of "which" & "that" , their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.

globaldesi · Answer

like is not a modifier
Also can you put in some more examples of the sentence you found where thsi "skip" rule can apply.

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi  globaldesi , there are  numerous  examples.

Emily Dickinson’s  letters  to Susan Huntington  Dickinson,  which  were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan’s marriage to Emily’s brother and ending shortly before Emily’s death in 1886, outnumber  her letters to anyone else.
 
-  which  is modifying faraway noun  letters .

Noun modifiers and under what scenarios do they "skip" ?

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