In the sentence ‘Compilers of the new dictionary decided to include a large number of illustrations and photographs, which they imagined would increase the possibility of its selling significantly well,’ the word ‘which’ plays an important role in connecting ideas. However, there may be some confusion about its antecedent, especially when referencing phrases like ‘to include…photographs’ or ‘a large number of…photographs.’ This article will clarify how ‘which’ functions in such contexts and address the common question of what it refers to.
Understanding ‘Which’ as a Relative Pronoun
The word ‘which’ in this sentence is a relative pronoun, referring back to the noun phrase that precedes it. A common question is whether ‘which’ refers to ‘to include a large number of illustrations and photographs’ or ‘a large number of illustrations and photographs’ alone. The answer lies in understanding the structure of the sentence and how relative pronouns function in complex sentences.
‘Which’ can often refer to an entire action or idea, not just a single noun. In this case, ‘which’ is referring to the decision of the compilers to ‘include a large number of illustrations and photographs,’ not just the ‘photographs.’ This is a key point in understanding the grammatical relationship within the sentence.
Why ‘Which’ Refers to the Whole Action
In complex sentences, relative pronouns like ‘which’ often refer to a larger idea or action, especially when a verb phrase (like ‘to include’) is involved. In this case, the compilers’ decision is the key point, and the relative pronoun ‘which’ connects this action to the result they imagined—the increased potential for the dictionary’s success.
Had the sentence been structured differently, such as ‘They included a large number of photographs, which increased the possibility,’ it would be clearer that ‘which’ refers directly to the photographs. However, in the original sentence, ‘which’ connects to the entire action of deciding to include both illustrations and photographs.
Common Misunderstandings of ‘Which’ and Its Antecedents
It is easy to misinterpret ‘which’ as only referring to ‘photographs’ due to its position right after the noun. However, ‘which’ actually refers to the whole phrase involving the decision to include illustrations and photographs. This is a common misunderstanding when reading complex sentences, especially when the relative clause begins immediately after a list of items.
It’s also worth noting that the relative pronoun ‘which’ can sometimes seem to refer to a noun close to it, but it may be connecting back to a broader idea or action that is more abstract or implied.
Conclusion
In the sentence ‘which they imagined would increase the possibility of its selling significantly well,’ the relative pronoun ‘which’ refers to the entire action of ‘including a large number of illustrations and photographs,’ not just the photographs themselves. This illustrates the importance of understanding how relative pronouns work in context, especially when they connect to complex actions or decisions. By paying attention to the sentence structure and the meaning behind the relative clause, you can clarify these types of grammatical nuances.
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