The subject of the relative clause is "who" (the relative clause has a
compound verb phrase). The antecedent of who is "someone." 

On the other hand, a comma is generally not used before "and" in a basic
compound verb phrase, so one could read the comma as signifying that the
"thinks with" verb phrase as compound with "is someone..." instead of
with "does not follow..."

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Edward Vavra
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 12:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Question on clause structure

    Would some of you please give me your opinions on the clause
structure of the following sentence:

"The essays show that a true thinker is someone who does not follow the
other thinkers, but thinks with his own mind."

My primary question involves what you see as the subject of "thinks."
To me, it appears ambiguous.
Thanks, (and, no, this is not a trick question.)
Ed V.

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/