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Old 03-May-2005, 22:08
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Question Can a relative cause modify a whole noun phrase combined with “and”?

I saw a sentence recently.

Look at the girl and her dog that are coming this way.

Does “that are coming this way” modify “her dog” only or “the girl and her dog”?
I know relative causes can modify the noun just before them but can they also modify a whole noun phrase?
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Old 03-May-2005, 23:55
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Default Re: Can a relative cause modify a whole noun phrase combined with “and”?

The structure is fine. The relative clause modifies the noun phrase 'Look at the girl and her dog'. Here's what's odd: using 'that' when the agent is known and human (i.e., girl) or 'who' when the agent is non-human (dog). Try dropping the relative pronoun. You don't need it. Like this,

Look at the girl and her dog coming this way.
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