Is this sentence with relativization grammatically correct?

Forums: Grammar, English
Email this Topic • Print this Page

I think the following sentences are all correct:
a. I bought a book about Marilyn Monroe.
b. I wrote a book about Marilyn Monroe.
c. I lost a book about Marilyn Monroe.
d. I left home a book about Marilyn Monroe.
But I am not sure whether the following sentences with relativized clauses are grammatically correct or not.

1.This is the actress that I wrote a book about.
2. This is the actress that I left home a book about.
3. This is the actress that I left home an autograph of.
4. This is the actress that I left home a poster of.
5. This is the actress that I lost a book about.
6. This is the actress that I lost a picture with an autograph of.
7. This is the actress that I bought a book about.
8. This is the actress that I sold a book about.

Would you please let me know the acceptability of the sentences 1-8 above?
And if possible, I will appreciate your comments on the acceptability.

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Question • Score: 1 • Views: 617 • Replies: 5

No top replies

@Variant,

Sentences d, and 1 - 8 are ungrammatical/unacceptable.

I don't intend to correct every one, however note that an actress is a person, so for example sentence 1 should read:
This is the actress about whom I wrote a book.

and sentence 6 should read
This is the actress whose autographed picture I lost.

In general, starting the sentence with "this actress " is causing acceptability problems as is ignoring the general rule "don't end a written sentence with a preposition".

2 Replies

@fresco,

Thank you very much for your judgements and comments. Especially sentences d, 1 and 7 that are considered acceptable in a linguistic paper are judged unacceptable in your judgement. I also appreciate you comment on the preposition stranding.

0 Replies

@fresco,

In general, starting the sentence with "this actress " is causing acceptability problems as is ignoring the general rule "don't end a written sentence with a preposition".

This is a very, very persistent myth.

http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/11/grammar-myths-prepositions/

1 Reply

@Doubtful,

The OP, like any other non-native speaker, requires "rule of thumb advice" (i.e. a "quick fix") about written sentence acceptability. He does not require a discussion of the well known myth of prescriptive grammar which indeed emanated from Latin teaching. The pedagogical context is not the same as the linguistic one.... a point which often escapes ESL respondents.

0 Replies

@Variant,

Quote:

Would you please let me know the acceptability of the sentences 1-8 above?

Awkward at first glance Var but I can easily imagine instances in which this construction has a humorous value

Not sure I agree with Fres above

0 Replies

Is this sentence with relativization grammatically correct?

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know