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Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)



 
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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
What would be a figurative equivalent of a municipality? | Meaning of "in computers"
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Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...) Wed Aug 02, 2006 13:13 pm  Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)
 

Please read:

a.
I saw my houses which had been destroyed by the storm.

b.
I saw my houses, which had been destroyed by the storm.

Are they both correct only one of them is correct? Please tell me the diffrfence in meaning.

Thanks
Van Khanh
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Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam

Which or not which? Wed Aug 02, 2006 13:21 pm  Which or not which?
 

Hi

In my understanding, in (a) you mean seeing ALL your houses destoyed (and can equally use that),
whereas in the second - only those (of your houses) that had been actually destoyed.

Generally about which-that and the proper punctualtion (commas), take a look, for example, here:

http://www.rightwords.co.nz/that.html
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Tamara
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Which or not which? Wed Aug 02, 2006 13:30 pm  Which or not which?
 

Thanks,

But you know, when I write:

I saw my houses which had been destroyed by the storm.

Most of people add "," after "houses" and I don't know why Confused

The " saw my houses which had been destroyed by the storm" is wrong in grammar????

Thanks
K
Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam

Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...) Wed Aug 02, 2006 13:49 pm  Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)
 

Van Khanh wrote:
Most of people add "," after "houses" and I don't know why Confused

I can only say that I, personally Smile, often put extra commas (doing punctuation mistakes and distorting the meaning of English sentences) only because in my first language participal phrase/clause (as well as dangling participle, like storm [,] destroying my houses) ALWAYS should be enclosed in commas – without exceptions.
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Tamara
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Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...) Wed Aug 02, 2006 14:01 pm  Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)
 

Thanks
Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam

Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...) Wed Aug 02, 2006 14:12 pm  Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)
 

Hi,

So, If I have 3 houses and I saw all my 3 houses destroyed, in this case , when I write:

I saw my houses which had been destroyed by the storm.

You can't correct into:

I saw my houses, which had been destroyed by the storm. (in the mentioned situation)

OK?

Thanks
Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam

Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...) Wed Aug 02, 2006 14:59 pm  Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)
 

Van Khanh wrote:
You can't correct into:

I saw my houses, which had been destroyed by the storm. (in the mentioned situation)

OK?

I'm not sure whether the use of comma is correct or not in the mentioned situation (when you you see all your houses, all of them have been destroyed and 3 = 3 Smile )

In this case I consider both are acceptable (with a bit different emphasis), but I'm not native.
Let's wait Smile
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Tamara
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Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...) Wed Aug 02, 2006 16:10 pm  Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)
 

Ok,

We wait together.
Confused
Bye.
K
Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam

Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...) Wed Aug 02, 2006 17:47 pm  Which or not which (I saw my houses which had been...)
 

You may place comma if my houses, which had been destroyed is attributive relative clause. So, it's up to you to make a right choice. Make a try Wink
Pamela
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