MartinMag wrote:
Oops! Sorry about that! Answer is D and not E
Could you explain a little further? Why is E wrong?
Is "that" better than "which" ?
Thanks and sorry again
Martin
In D, The clause starting with "that" is a RESTRICTIVE clause...how do i know that?
Remove the "that" clause..we are left with a run on sentence.
With Restrictive Clauses, ALWAYS use THAT.
NOTE:
Its true that both "that" and "which"
can be used to start restrictive clauses...but "that" is always preferred.
So we zoom in to D..[/b]
Another reason for rejecting E...
Japan's is a culture of X, of a system of forms...this structure is not quite correct...
Culture and System are two different things.. isnt it?
Culture of a System of.......isnt that messed up?
correct version can be:
Japan's is a culture of X and a system of Y that makes its Z
ok, now to answer in general about that and which
That starts a restrictive clause providing essential information.. no commas ever for "that"
The book,
which is on the table, is mine...wrong
If we remove the red part, you will ask...which book....isnt it?
We need more information...
The book
that is on the table is mine...correct
The sentence in blue is thus integral to the sentence.
Here we have complete information about the book...so this is fine
So if you get rid of a "which" clause ...it "
should not" change the meaning of the sentence..if it does, then your sentence construction is wrong.....the Which clause is usually set of from the sentence by commas...
Be advised..there may be cases where ETS will introduce the same error in ALL the choices...in that case, dont lose sight of the fact that you got to pick the BEST answer....for example , you may have five choices...all of these have no comma before which...in that case..you can be sure that the rule " no comma before which" is not tested here.
Is that good enough?
Thanks
Praetorian