please help with thise sentence...

[Anonymous]

I spread all my clothes in the sun to dry, which they do very quickly.
(I know WHICH stands for TO DRY---an infinitive phrase) and I think the grammar structure to WHICH, in abbreviation, used to show the concept of non-essential adjective clause is S+V+O+INFINITIVE PHRASE as object complement)

Analysis:
1)I=subject
2)spread=transitive verb
3)my clothes=object
4)to dry=object complement

The structure is S+V+O+O.C(infinitive phrase), so my question is whether it is the only structure that we can use WHICH as an substitution to the infinitive phrase as an object complement of the non-essential adjective clause like the sentence above? And is it the only situation that WHICH used as the substitution of the infinitive phrase to show CONCEPT?

Can the structure be S+V(infinitive phrase) or S(infinitive phrase)+V+O or S+V+O(infinitive phrase)? What other structures can WHICH be used as an substitution? THANKS

[Pete]

It seems to me that an infinitive phrase can be used as the antecedent of "which" in the cases you mention:

- He loves to fly, which is his only real hobby. [Infinitive is the object.]
- To attend college, which is what he really wants to do, appears impossible because of his financial situation. [Infinitive is the subject.]
- The opportunity to meet his idol, which he had dreamed of doing, finally came. [Infinitive is complement of the subject.]
- I want him to try, which is really more important than to win. [Infinitive is complement of a single object.]

I'm not sure I understand why you feel it should matter how the infinitive is used in order to refer to it in a relative clause.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for helping me out Pete. But there are two sentences that you conclude...well I am just in doubt whether the WHICH clauses modify the INFINITIVE PHRASES or the whole PHRASES; Here they are:


- The opportunity to meet his idol, which he had dreamed of doing, finally came. [Infinitive is complement of the subject.]
- I want him to try, which is really more important than to win. [Infinitive is complement of a single object.]

The first sentence; Does which modify TO MEET HIS IDOL or the whole phrase THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIS IDOL?

The second one; Is I WANT HIM TO TRIED being modified by WHICH or HIM TO DRY modified by WHICH.

From what I ask in my question is a slightly different from the case where you listed your examples. Because all the examples you gave are clear, vivid and understandable. You can see that WHICH does what job in the sentences but about mine it is a little vague, which is what I have never learned before.

Usually WHICH functions only as an antecedent to a noun phrases, a sentence, subject of the sentence or object of the transitive verb. But in this sentence WHICH functions as an substitution of an infinitive phrase to show what is so-called CONCEPT: I spread the clothes in the sun to dry, which they did very quickly. In this sentence WHICH doesn't function as a substitution for a whole clause and the subject or object of the VERB. It is very obvious that in the WHICH CLAUSE or NON-ESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE does have a SUBJECT and VERB, so WHICH just functions as the substitution of the INFINITIVE PHRASE to show concept of its antecedent---the main clause.

This is what I learn and is also what WHICH function:
-I always study hard, which is good.(which functions as an substitution of the whole clause)
-I just bought a villa which is located in the suburbs of the United State.(which functions as a subject)
-I have a very nice pen, which I don't use very often.(which functions as an object of the verb USE)
-We just missed the train for which I have been waiting for an hour.(which functions as an object of the prepostion WHICH)

About I spread my clothes in the sun to dry, which they did very quickly is completely different from four of the sentence above and the sentences that you gave.

That is what confuses me. Would you please help me with that PETE or RUSTY? Would you also give me a few more examples that using infinitive phrases to show concept like the one I am asking for help. Thanks ! :wink:

[Anonymous]

hey Hi Pete and Rusty, You have always been a great help to us, but would you please help me with the question I ask. I am still seeking for answers to the question.

[Pete]

I think you are confusing 2 distinct things: How "which" is used in its clause, and how the antecedent to which (i.e. the word that "which" refers to) is used in its clause.

You note that "which" is used differently in two sentences like the following:

- He loves to fly, which is his only real hobby. [Infinitive is the object in its clause. "Which" is the subject in its clause.]

- He loves to fly, which he does every Saturday. [Infinitive is the object in its clause. "Which" is the object (of does) in its clause.]

As I said before, it doesn't seem to matter how the infinitive is used in its clause; it can be the antecedent of a relative pronoun in any case. The relative pronoun can be used in different ways in its clause no matter how the infinitive is used in its clause.

Note: it is common for a pronoun (a relative pronoun like "which" or some other kind, like "it"), whose antecedent is an infinitive, to be the object of a form of "do":
- He seems to eat to much. He does it when he is nervous.

[Anonymous]

I think I get it but not really comprehend it. Anyway thanks for helping Pete. Your sentences are very clear but mine, the one I extracted from my grammar book is a little confusing somehow, maybe that is the problem that ESL student has.