usage of "which"

[mwilliams82]

Often I see a non-essential or essential modifier clause, offset by a comma or commas, that starts with the word "which". In the examples I've seen I often get confused and can't tell if the "which" corresponds to the subject in the preceding clause or if it corresponds to the word immediately before the comma. Is there a rule that regulates this or does it rest on meaning?

Thanks!

[RonPurewal]

Often I see a non-essential or essential modifier clause, offset by a comma or commas, that starts with the word "which". In the examples I've seen I often get confused and can't tell if the "which" corresponds to the subject in the preceding clause or if it corresponds to the word immediately before the comma. Is there a rule that regulates this or does it rest on meaning?

Thanks!

hi

this is the wrong folder in which to post this problem. (this is the GMATPREP SOFTWARE PROBLEMS folder).
i'll try to move it.

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the gmat tends to write sentences in which "which" stands for the ELIGIBLE noun that's closest to the comma.
by "eligible", i mean that the noun has to AGREE IN TERMS OF SINGULAR/PLURAL with the FOLLOWING VERB.

here's an example:

the box of nails, which is on the counter, is to be used on this project.

in this case, "which" CANNOT refer to "nails", since the verb "is" is singular. therefore, the nearest eligible noun is "box (of nails)". so, "which" unambiguously stands for that.

in our observation, the gmat has been VERY good about this.
whenever i've seen a "which" that refers to "X of Y" rather than just Y, it has ALWAYS been the case that X was singular and Y was plural (or X was plural and Y was singular), and the verb had a form that matched X and didn't match Y.

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it will never refer to the subject of an ENTIRE CLAUSE that precedes the comma. wrong, wrong, wrong. and more wrong.

hope that helps.