Is Whichever radio station you want to play an adjective (relative) clause? I'm confused on the different elements of this dependent clause. Can someone diagram or parse the whole sentence for me?
Thank You
No, not an adjectival but a concessive nominal clause, standing as the subject of the verb 'is', parsed as follows:Originally Posted by Katherine99
Whichever: concessive adjective,determining 'radio station'
radio station: (compound) NP, object of 'play'
you: pronoun, subject of 'want'
want: finite verb of subordinate clause
(to) play: dependent infinitive governed by 'want'
I think in your sentnce whichever works like 'any'. In fact, I think 'any' contains a concessive meaning in itself. But any can not make the following structure by itself: Whichever(or whoever) try to fail the project will get the curse.
As a non-native English speaker, I also wonder how differently native speakers feel about 'Anyone who try to fail' and 'Whoever try to fail'. Anyway at a sight 'whoever' is shorter than 'anyone who'. So, I suppose as a human being, we all prefer a short version in live conversations and that is why English needs whoever/whichever in addition to anyone/any thing. But I don't know well they have a different connotaion.
I hope my thread have made any little help for you.
Last edited by youngbut; 13-Dec-2012 at 05:48.
IMO
Anyone who try to fail
Whoever try to fail
Thank you for your correction. I did not know anyone and whoever are singular. I will not forget it.
By the way, Do you think they have a different connotaion?
Whoever says that is a liar.
Anyone says that is a liar.
Which is more formal or informal? and which sounds firmer?
Anyone who says that is a liar.
Anyone saying that is a liar.
Semantically identical, but structurally quite different!
In your rephrased version, the NP 'any radio station' would be the subject of the main clause, and '(that) you want to play' would be an (adjectival) relative clause modifying that subject phrase.
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