Ads 468x60px

Pages

Whose/which - antecedents - Pronouns - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|



[Sidenote: Which.]


113. The sentences in Sec. 108 show that--


(1) _Which_ refers to animals, things, or ideas, not persons.


(2) It is not inflected for gender or number.


(3) It is nearly always third person, rarely second (an example of its

use as second person is given in sentence 32, p. 96).


(4) It has two case forms,--_which_ for the nominative and objective,

_whose_ for the possessive.


[Sidenote: _Examples of_ whose, _possessive case of_ which.]


114. Grammarians sometimes object to the statement that _whose_ is

the possessive of _which_, saying that the phrase _of which_ should

always be used instead; yet a search in literature shows that the

possessive form _whose_ is quite common in prose as well as in poetry:

for example,--


I swept the horizon, and saw at one glance the glorious

elevations, on _whose_ tops the sun kindled all the melodies and

harmonies of light.--BEECHER.


Men may be ready to fight to the death, and to persecute without

pity, for a religion _whose_ creed they do not understand, and

_whose_ precepts they habitually disobey.--MACAULAY


Beneath these sluggish waves lay the once proud cities of the

plain, _whose_ grave was dug by the thunder of the

heavens.--SCOTT.


Many great and opulent cities _whose_ population now exceeds that

of Virginia during the Revolution, and _whose_ names are spoken

in the remotest corner of the civilized world.--MCMASTER.


Through the heavy door _whose_ bronze network closes the place of

his rest, let us enter the church itself.--RUSKIN.


This moribund '61, _whose_ career of life is just coming to its

terminus.--THACKERAY.


So in Matthew Arnold, Kingsley, Burke, and numerous others.


[Sidenote: Which _and its antecedents_.]


115. The last two sentences in Sec. 108 show that _which_ may have

other antecedents than nouns and pronouns. In 5 (_a_) there is a

participial adjective used as the antecedent; in 5 (_b_) there is a

complete clause employed as antecedent. This often occurs.


Sometimes, too, the antecedent follows _which_; thus,--


And, which is worse, _all you have done

Hath been but for a wayward son_.

--SHAKESPEARE.


Primarily, which is very notable and curious, I observe that _men

of business rarely know the meaning of the word "rich_."--RUSKIN.


I demurred to this honorary title upon two grounds,--first, as

being one toward which I had no natural aptitudes or predisposing

advantages; secondly (which made her stare), _as carrying with it

no real or enviable distinction_.--DE QUINCEY.






|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|

0 comments:


Hello Friends ! Please send your requests,comments,suggestions to improve this blog.
Learn English Grammar & Usage; Are U Anxious To Know The Science & Tech News; Where Are You ? Know The Changes; Health:News N Tips
Word of the Day

cubbyhole discuss

Definition:(noun) A small secluded room.
Synonyms:snug
Usage:Back in her cubbyhole of an office, Nina sat down at her desk.
Article of the Day

Cyclo-Cross

Performed on short courses featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills, and obstacles, cyclo-cross is a form of bicycle racing that requires riders to dismount, carry their bikes while maneuvering around obstructions, and remount without losing speed. Some trace the origins of the sport to the early 1900s, when European road racers would race to the next town by cutting through fields, over fences, and taking various other shortcuts. Why did the sport gain popularity in 1910? More... Discuss

This Day in History

Algerian Leader Muhammad Boudiaf Assassinated (1992)

Boudiaf was an Algerian political leader and a founder of the National Liberation Front, which directed the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962) against France. Boudiaf was captured in 1956 and imprisoned. He was freed after Algeria gained independence, but his opposition to the new regime led to a 27-year exile. In 1992, he was invited back to head the government and deal with rising religious influence in politics. Months later, he was assassinated by a bodyguard while doing what? More... Discuss
Today's Birthday

Giacomo Leopardi (1798)

Leopardi was an Italian poet and scholar who suffered throughout his life from chronic physical ailments and dashed hopes. Despite these challenges, he was devoted to philosophy and the classics from early childhood and became one of the most formidable linguists and writers of his time. His pessimistic poetry is admired for its brilliance, intensity, and musicality. He is considered among the great Italian poets of the 19th century. What are some of his most famous works? More... Discuss

In the News

Quote of the Day
Custom may lead a man into many errors; but it justifies none.
Henry Fielding
(1707-1754)
Discuss

Spelling Bee
difficulty level:
score: -
n. The speech of an individual, considered as a linguistic pattern unique among speakers of his or her language or dialect
 
spell the word:
Match Up
Select word:










Match each word in the left column with its synonym on the right. When finished, click Answer to see the results. Good luck!