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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns

fadifai
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Relative pronouns
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Hello everyone ! What does the word "that" in the sentence refer to, please? Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures, apply digital filters to it. |
6 Dec 2018
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redcamarocruiser
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�That� refers to �service� .
Edit:
Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures, apply digital filters to it.
It may be clearer if simplified:
Instagram is a service that enables its users to take pictures...
As Bruce has pointed out below:
"Relative clauses are clauses starting with the relative pronouns who*, that, which, whose, where, when. They are most often used to define or identify the noun that precedes them."
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6 Dec 2018
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maryse pey�
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I agree with redwamacruiser for "service". |
6 Dec 2018
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cunliffe
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Instagram. Or both instagram and service , because they are one and the same here.
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6 Dec 2018
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yanogator
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Although Lynne is right that Instagram and service are equated here (by the word "is"), "that" refers to "service", mainly because it is closer to it. Bruce |
6 Dec 2018
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fadifai
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Thank you all dear colleagues for your kind consideration. My own answer was �service � but my students � answers pushed me to think a bit about the situation. Thanks again. |
6 Dec 2018
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cunliffe
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One of the examples on that link is �A notebook is a computer which can be carried around.� I think that �which � refers to the notebook, not the computer. Not all computers can be carried around, but a notebook can. �Titanic � is a love story that most people have seen. �That � refers to �Titanic�. I am still with your students, fadifai!
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7 Dec 2018
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yanogator
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I still think you �re wrong, Lynne. Not all computers can be carried around, but a computer that can be carried around is called a notebook. By changing the word order, it is clear that "that" refers to computer, not notebook. The same can be done with the original sentence: A service that enables its users to take pictures is Instagram. Bruce |
7 Dec 2018
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cunliffe
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Hi all. Mmm, having studied the rule, yes, I can see that. It �s a bit counter-intuitive, though... Lynne |
7 Dec 2018
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