Answers to Friday Grammar Quiz- June 21, 2024

[Gerry Steen]

Answers to Friday Grammar Quiz- June 21, 2024.

A.

1. The sentence “This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa that showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.” should be written like this; This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.

( “Which” is used instead of “that” to refer to a previously mentioned subject when adding a clause including further information. “The case of the continent of Africa” is the previously mentioned subject. “ Showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.” is the clause with further information.

2. The sentence “The book that my sister gave me is missing.” was written appropriately. “That” is used as part of a restrictive modifier. A restrictive modifier is a clause or phrase ( that my sister gave me) that is essential to or identifies the meaning of a term (The book).

3. The sentence “This book that my sister gave me is my least favorite.” should be written like this; This book, which my sister gave me, is my least favorite. The sentence “ This book is my least favorite.” could stand alone. Therefore, the information “my sister gave me” is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. This non-essential information is a non-restrictive modifier and must be introduced with the word “which” and set off by commas.

4. The sentence “My horse that ran away last Sunday has been found.” should be written like this; My horse, which ran away last Sunday, has been found. The sentence “My horse has been found.” could stand alone and be understood. Therefore the information “that ran away last Sunday” is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. This non-essential information is a non-restrictive modifier and must be introduced with the word “which” and set off by commas.

The Friday Grammar Quiz- June 21, 2024

A. When do we use that? When do we use which? Sometimes it is appropriate to use “that” and other times to use “which”. Which sentences are inappropriately written using “that”? In which sentences should we use “which”?

1. This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa that showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.

2. The book that my sister gave me is missing.

3. This book that my sister gave me is my least favorite.

4. My horse that ran away last Sunday has been found.

[Diana Lowery]

Thanks, Gerry,
Could you explain why you did not put a comma before which in the corrected sentence?
1. The sentence “This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa that showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.” should be written like this; This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.
Thanks,
Diana

[Gerry Steen]

Thanks, Gerry,
Could you explain why you did not put a comma before which in the corrected sentence?
1. The sentence “This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa that showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.” should be written like this; This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.
Thanks,
Diana

Hi, Diana. I will give you three reasons. 1. I used a nearly identical sentence in my "Neither Safe nor Effective" review. I had used the word "that" but an editor corrected it with "which" and no comma. 2. I researched to find out why the editor had made such a correction. I found information that made sense in my Mac computer's New Oxford American Dictionary. The word "which" can be used as a relative pronoun and refer to something previously mentioned when introducing a clause giving further information. 3. The sentence "This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa." would be incomplete without including extra defining information in a restrictive subordinate clause. In this case, the restrictive subordinate clause is "which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world." It is a grammar rule that we do not use commas to set off restrictive elements.

I hope this all makes sense to you. If I am wrong, please let me know with an explanation. Thank you for your participation and for asking such an important question.

[Diana Lowery]

Thanks, Gerry,
Could you explain why you did not put a comma before which in the corrected sentence?
1. The sentence “This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa that showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.” should be written like this; This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.
Thanks,
Diana

Hi, Diana. I will give you three reasons. 1. I used a nearly identical sentence in my "Neither Safe nor Effective" review. I had used the word "that" but an editor corrected it with "which" and no comma. 2. I researched to find out why the editor had made such a correction. I found information that made sense in my Mac computer's New Oxford American Dictionary. The word "which" can be used as a relative pronoun and refer to something previously mentioned when introducing a clause giving further information. 3. The sentence "This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa." would be incomplete without including extra defining information in a restrictive subordinate clause. In this case, the restrictive subordinate clause is "which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world." It is a grammar rule that we do not use commas to set off restrictive elements.

I hope this all makes sense to you. If I am wrong, please let me know with an explanation. Thank you for your participation and for asking such an important question.

Thanks, Gerry, I agree with everything you said. My dilemma, however, concerns this statement, "It is a grammar rule that we do not use commas to set off restrictive elements." My experience has been that choosing between restrictive and non-restrictive elements becomes a subjective decision. How do you objectively prove that a clause is restrictive?

[Gerry Steen]

Thanks, Gerry,
Could you explain why you did not put a comma before which in the corrected sentence?
1. The sentence “This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa that showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.” should be written like this; This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world.
Thanks,
Diana

Hi, Diana. I will give you three reasons. 1. I used a nearly identical sentence in my "Neither Safe nor Effective" review. I had used the word "that" but an editor corrected it with "which" and no comma. 2. I researched to find out why the editor had made such a correction. I found information that made sense in my Mac computer's New Oxford American Dictionary. The word "which" can be used as a relative pronoun and refer to something previously mentioned when introducing a clause giving further information. 3. The sentence "This theory was supported by the case of the continent of Africa." would be incomplete without including extra defining information in a restrictive subordinate clause. In this case, the restrictive subordinate clause is "which showed this virtually unvaccinated continent had the lowest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the world." It is a grammar rule that we do not use commas to set off restrictive elements.

I hope this all makes sense to you. If I am wrong, please let me know with an explanation. Thank you for your participation and for asking such an important question.

Thanks, Gerry, I agree with everything you said. My dilemma, however, concerns this statement, "It is a grammar rule that we do not use commas to set off restrictive elements." My experience has been that choosing between restrictive and non-restrictive elements becomes a subjective decision. How do you objectively prove that a clause is restrictive?

Hi, Diana. Good question. I guess the only way is to remove the "restrictive" clause. If the sentence does not make sense without it, the removed clause is "restrictive". I think I understand what you are saying though. Sometimes the sentence does make sense without the "restrictive" clause. Therefore, the removed clause becomes "non-restrictive". But to the writer, the clause is important to the meaning of the sentence and remains "restrictive" in their mind. However, the editor will not always agree. Whew!! Are we having fun yet? LOL. Have a nice day, Diana.