BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Please help - a question on relative pronoun

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:06 am

Please help - a question on relative pronoun

by mohitsingh » Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:16 am
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?
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1556
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:18 pm
Thanked: 448 times
Followed by:34 members
GMAT Score:650

by theCodeToGMAT » Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:28 pm
According to me, "which" here refers to "wine" because as per the rule:

- "which" refers to closest legitimate noun

I will give you an example wherein "which" doesn't modify the closest noun:

"The box of nails, which is kept on table, is of red color."

Here, since the usage is "which is" so which is not modifying closest noun "nails"..

The sentence is of the form X of Y.. for such constructs on GMAT.. we should be careful while judging the "which" usage.
R A H U L
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:06 am

by mohitsingh » Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:00 am
theCodeToGMAT wrote:According to me, "which" here refers to "wine" because as per the rule:

- "which" refers to closest legitimate noun

I will give you an example wherein "which" doesn't modify the closest noun:

"The box of nails, which is kept on table, is of red color."

Here, since the usage is "which is" so which is not modifying closest noun "nails"..

The sentence is of the form X of Y.. for such constructs on GMAT.. we should be careful while judging the "which" usage.
Thanks for the help buddy!
So if the author intends to say that "coffee" is banned in Koran, this sentence has error right?
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1556
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:18 pm
Thanked: 448 times
Followed by:34 members
GMAT Score:650

by theCodeToGMAT » Fri Nov 01, 2013 7:16 am
mohitsingh wrote: Thanks for the help buddy!
So if the author intends to say that "coffee" is banned in Koran, this sentence has error right?
Then it's ambiguous..
R A H U L
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2013 12:50 pm
Thanked: 4 times

by AbhiS » Wed Nov 06, 2013 11:42 am
mohitsingh wrote: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?


''Which'' in the sentence you have posted stands for Wine.

Which as a generic rule modifies the closest noun it touches, or the subject of the preposition phrase when the object of the prepositional phrase is an essential.

As Rahul rightly mentioned.

In the example - "The box of nails, which is kept on table, is of red color."

There can be many boxes which are on the table, hence the use of object of the prepositional phrase is essential, - To ans the question which box?
The box of Nails; in this sentence the nails, object of the prepositional phrase is essential to distinguish it from the remaining boxes. So the ''Which'' in this sentence is referring back to the specific Box

I hope it helps.

Thank you for the opportunity

Rgds,
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1