I use sentences like this in grammar classes to help distinguish between
relatives and content clauses, so they understand the notion "gap".
Needless to say, at first such a sentence gives students absolute fits.

Herb

 

________________________________

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Veit, Richard
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 3:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: which and that

 

Here's a sentence that is ambiguous between a relative and a complement
clause:

           Elizabeth believes the theory that Camilla proposed to
Charles.

*       In the relative interpretation, Camilla proposed a certain
theory to Charles (perhaps that good things come to those who wait), and
Elizabeth believes that theory.
*       In the complement interpretation, Elizabeth believes the theory
that it was Camilla who proposed marriage to Charles, rather than the
reverse.

________________________

Richard Veit
Department of English, UNCW
Wilmington, NC 28403-5947
910-962-3324

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
This message may contain confidential information, and is
intended only for the use of the individual(s) to whom it
is addressed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------


To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select
"Join or leave the list" 

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV
list, please visit the list's web interface at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave
the list" 

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV
list, please visit the list's web interface at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave
the list" 

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/