French and the Poles

[iikarthik]

Hi,

Pls help me understand the usage of pronouns in this sentence

"The French handed the informaion to the poles because they believed it is of no use."

I believe that this sentence is incorrect as they can refer wither to the french or the poles.

Pls advise .

Thanks
karthik

[gmat_perfect]

Hi,

Pls help me understand the usage of pronouns in this sentence

"The French handed the information to the poles because they believed it is of no use."

I believe that this sentence is incorrect as they can refer wither to the french or the poles.

Pls advise .

Thanks
karthik

Nope,

The sentence is correct as it is.

There are two clauses. These two clauses have two subjects. Mind the following two things:

1. The pronoun will refer to the NOUN in the previous clause that is grammatically parallel to that pronoun.
2. The intended reference makes the sentence more logical.

Now, come to your sentence.

In the first clause French is the subject, and in the second clause they is the subject. They are parallel.
If they refers to the French, it makes more logical because "they think that it is of no use; therefore, they handed the information". If they refers to the poles, why do they think that it is of no use?

HTH.

[iikarthik]

Thanks a lot GMAT _Perfect.
I understand that the sentence is correct.

1. The pronoun will refer to the NOUN in the previous clause that is grammatically parallel to that pronoun.


Can u pls explain this with an example?

Regards,
karthik