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

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