Hi,
Is there a simple method of checking whether an antecedent is unambiguous? Consider the following two sentences from OG12...
1) in late 1997, the chambers inside the pyramid of the Pharaoh Menkaure at Giza were closed to visitors for cleaning and repair because moisture exhaled by tourists had raised the humidity within them to such levels that salt from the stone was crystallyzing and fungus was growing on the walls.
2) in late 1997, the chambers inside the pyramid of the Pharaoh Menkaure at Giza were closed to visitors for cleaning and repair because of moisture that was exhaled by tourists raising the humidity within them to levels so high as to make the salt from the stone crystallise and fungus was growing on the walls.
I know that 2nd option is incorrect as it is not structurally parallel.
OG says them in the first sentence is clearly referring to chambers and the them in the second sentence is not. I am unable to understand why so.
Can anyone help me understand this? And more generally how to verify the antecedents.
Thanks.
Is there a simple method of checking whether an antecedent is unambiguous? Consider the following two sentences from OG12...
1) in late 1997, the chambers inside the pyramid of the Pharaoh Menkaure at Giza were closed to visitors for cleaning and repair because moisture exhaled by tourists had raised the humidity within them to such levels that salt from the stone was crystallyzing and fungus was growing on the walls.
2) in late 1997, the chambers inside the pyramid of the Pharaoh Menkaure at Giza were closed to visitors for cleaning and repair because of moisture that was exhaled by tourists raising the humidity within them to levels so high as to make the salt from the stone crystallise and fungus was growing on the walls.
I know that 2nd option is incorrect as it is not structurally parallel.
OG says them in the first sentence is clearly referring to chambers and the them in the second sentence is not. I am unable to understand why so.
Can anyone help me understand this? And more generally how to verify the antecedents.
Thanks.
Last edited by prodizy on Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
lol
