Usage of which

Question

The following appeared in Financial times today. My question is regarding the placement of 'which'; From the meaning, which should be modifying "EU emissions trading scheme", but since 'which' is placed after Carbon Dioxide it looks as if it is modifying Carbon Dixoide. I would like to know in what circumstances this type of modification is allowed.

Airbus and six large European airlines said the plan to bring global airlines into the EU emissions trading scheme for carbon dioxide,  which  the industry has steadfastly opposed, is creating an “intolerable” threat to the European aviation industry by opening up the possibility of trade battles with China, the US and Russia .

source: Financial times

GMATD11 · Answer

Here which cannot modify Carbon dioxide because Carbon dioxide is object of preposition  for , and Object cannot be the subject of following relative clause

which the industry has steadfastly opposed

atalb · Answer

As far as GMAT is concerned, 'which' should always modify the word/phrase preceding the comma before 'which'. We need to carefully look at the context of the sentence ('Which' can modify 'A for B' or only 'B')

The sentence goes like this - the plan............is creating an “intolerable” threat to the European aviation industry

it is unclear whether 'which' modifies 'the plan' or 'EU emissions trading scheme for carbon dioxide'

Ideally 'which' should modify - 'EU emissions trading scheme for carbon dioxide'

DmitryFarber · Answer

A sentence like this would be unlikely to show up in SC, but the author's intent is clearly to say "The plan (to bring global airlines into the EU emissions trading scheme for carbon dioxide), which the industry has steadfastly opposed . . . " I wouldn't fault this use of "which," but it's a bit much for the GMAT.

amresh09 · Answer

My Assessment...

Airbus and six large European airlines said the plan to bring global airlines into the EU emissions trading scheme for carbon dioxide, which the industry has steadfastly opposed, is creating an “intolerable” threat to the European aviation industry by opening up the possibility of trade battles with China, the US and Russia.

Which is a non essential (non restrictive) modifier modifying "plan". Also "to bring global airlines into the EU emissions trading scheme for carbon dioxide" is an essential modifier (Vital modifier) modifying "Plan". As far as I know we can have a vital modifier (Not separated by comma) in between a non vital modifier (Always separated by comma) and the modified entity.

Usage of which

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards