[Grammar] What is the antecedent in this sentence?

Hello,

In this sentence:

What is the name of the girl ___ you want to know?

(1) What are the possible relative pronouns for the blank?

(2) What is the antecedent for the relative pronoun?

I already formed an opinion on this and there's no doubt in my mind, but unfortunately my view isn't shared by others. So I'm seeking your input.

Thanks in advance!

What is your opinion?

John

Welcome to the forum, l10nel,

The idea is that you tell us what you think first.

Rover

John and Rover:

Thanks for replying. Here's what I think:

The antecedent must be 'the girl'. Therefore, the acceptable relative pronouns are whom, who, or that. Or, it can be omitted:

What is the name of the girl whom/who/that/[nothing] you want to know?

If the antecedent is 'the name' (in other words, 'the name of the girl'), the sentence doesn't make sense. It will result in the asker knowing that "you want to know the name of the girl" and still going on to ask you what the name of the girl is.

l10nel said:

What is the name of the girl whom/who/that/[nothing] you want to know?

Click to expand...

:up:

5jj:

Thank you for the show of support. Could you confirm that you therefore agree with me that the antecedent must be 'the girl' and cannot be 'the name (of the girl)', because the latter is not warranted by a logical or sensible reading of the sentence, as far as standard/proper English is concerned?

l10nel said:

5jj:

Thank you for the show of support. Could you confirm that you therefore agree with me that the antecedent must be 'the girl' and cannot be 'the name (of the girl)', because the latter is not warranted by a logical or sensible reading of the sentence, as far as standard/proper English is concerned?

Click to expand...

It's an unlikely sentence in English. We generally don't say, "I want to know that girl." We'd be more likely to say, "I'd like to meet (or get to know) that girl." But, you couldn't use that sentence in your question, because then "girl" would have to be the referent of "What's the name of that girl you want to meet (or get to know)."

So, it's a trick question. But, the referent can't be 'name' for the reason you've given.