Tom tom

Posted by Henry on August 24, 2003

In Reply to: The title of which, which title posted by Tom on August 24, 2003

: : : : : Hi!

: : : : : A book says only the first sentence is acceptable. I don't know why the second sentence is not acceptable.

: : : : : The movie The Wizard of Oz, _________ is taken from the book of the same name, has been a children's favorite for years.

: : : : : a) the title of which
: : : : : b) which title

: : : : : Thanks for your help.

: : : : : Tom

: : : : I have to admit I don't either, except that b) is a little more formal and fussier-sounding--but maybe I'm missing some fine point of grammar.

: : : Oh, I think I see--the subject of the sentence is the word "movie", not "The Wizard of Oz"; and "movie" isn't a title. That's why.

: : I believe "which title" was acceptable in English two or three hundred years ago but isn't standard today.

: : The sentence could also say (correctly) ". . . Oz, a title taken from the book of the same name," or ". . . Oz, whose title is taken from the book of the same name."

: Thank you for your answers.

: "Which" can be used as a relative determiner, but it need a preposition before that, right?

: a) He called her by the wrong name, for which mistake he apologized immediately.

: How about next sentence? I quote it from the same dictionary.

: b) I said nothing, which fact made him angry.

: Many English natives don't accept the last sentence, I guess. I am just wondering why a) sounds OK but b) sounds strange.

: Thanks again.

: Tom

: PS. I was surprised to see another Tom had posted his question right after me.

'I said nothing, which fact made him angry.'
I'm happy to accept this, although 'fact' would usually be omitted.
It's not the same construction as before. I think you could also say 'The movie The Wizard of Oz, which film is taken from the book of the same name, has been a children's favorite for years.' Again, 'film' would usually be omitted.