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Question

"In this way, Gaskell sheds light on the reactions to the changing class relationships given by the people from various different classes."

Sometimes, when I write a relatively long sentence where I need to use prepositions, I find myself unsure as to the correct placement of subordinate clauses. I know that I can craft the sentence differently and more clearly, nonetheless, I want to ask if the "given" part still gives information about "reactions" or does it become meaningless because "to the changing class relationships " comes inbetween the relative clause and the noun it qualifies?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

parendeSometimes, when I write a relatively long sentence where I need to use prepositions, I find myself unsure as to the correct placement of subordinate clauses.

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parendeI want to ask if the "given" part still gives information about "reactions"

Yes, it does. There's a slight hitch in understanding when you read it, but it soon resolves itself with a half-second of analysis. You might try putting "to the changing class relationships" at the end. That's not as likely to seem like it mistakenly applies to "various different classes", i.e., it may more easily relate back to "reactions". There is often no right answer to such questions, so the writer (you, in this case ) has to use some intuition.

CJ

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