Hi Roberto:

I suspect that the confusion for the student (and her English teacher
mother) is that opening IN, the fact that the which-clause is part of a
prepositional phrase--so that opening adverbial of place consists of two
IN-prepositional phrases, one of which is embedded as a modifier of THOSE
CLASSES.  At any rate, your corrections are correct.  The antecedent of the
relative pronoun is THOSE CLASSES; the which-clause, in normal order, would
be, Constructivist teaching is not the primary approach in which (i.e., in
those classes). And, yes, that semicolon should be a comma: It simply sets
off the opening prepositional phrase.

Another question has to do with the comma after CLASSES. If the adjectival
clause there to define, or identify THOSE CLASSES, to restrict the meaning
of that noun phrase, it should not be set off by a comma.  But we don't
have the context here to make that decision.  If the reader already knows
the identity of "those classes," then the comma is correct, the clause is
simply commenting--and the which-clause needs to be set off.  In both
cases, however, there will be a comma after APPROACH.

I hope this helps.

Martha Kolln




>Hi all,
>
>I have a problem with the grammar structure/puctuation of the sentence
>below, that one student used in an essay.
>
>"In those classes, which Constructivist teaching is not the primary
>approach; I have had some good encounters and some not so good encounters."
>
>My correction was to add "in" before "which", so that it reads:
>
>"In those classes in which Constructivist teaching is not the primary
>approach; I have had some good encounters and some not so good encounters."
>
>My opinion is that the "which" clause in its original version is not
>entirely grammatical, since the referent is not "classes which
>contructivist teaching", but we are talking about classes "in which"
>constructivism is not used. If you miss the "in", it looks like the classes
>themselves are attached a "constructivist teaching" condition, which makes
>for an awkard reading.
>
>Could you comment on the correctness (prescriptive or descriptive) and
>clarity of the original sentence?
>
>Also, what about the use of the semi-colon? Would that be something to
>change also?
>
>One of the problems is, this student says her mother is an English teacher,
>and she didn't see anything wrong  with the version without the "in"
>particle. Can I make a case for the contrary? If I can't, I don't have any
>problem accepting an impartial, unbiased, professional opinion, even if it
>contradicts my intuitive opinion. That's why I'm asking in the forum  :-)
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>
>Roberto Perez
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