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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Relative pronouns    

Relative pronouns



fadifai
Algeria

Relative pronouns
 
Hello everyone !
 
What does the word "that" in the sentence refer to, please?
 
Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take
pictures, apply digital filters to it.
 

6 Dec 2018      





redcamarocruiser
United States

�That� refers to �service� .

Edit:

Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take
pictures, apply digital filters to it.

It  may be clearer if simplified:

Instagram is a service that enables its users to take pictures...

As Bruce has pointed out below:

"Relative clauses are clauses starting with the relative pronouns who*, that, which, whose, where, when. They are most often used to define or identify the noun that precedes them."



6 Dec 2018     



fadifai
Algeria

Thank you very kindly  redcamarocruiser

6 Dec 2018     



maryse pey�
France

I agree with redwamacruiser for "service".

6 Dec 2018     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

Instagram. Or both instagram and service , because they are one and the same here. 

6 Dec 2018     



yanogator
United States

Although Lynne is right that Instagram and service are equated here (by the word "is"), "that" refers to "service", mainly because it is closer to it.
 
Bruce 

6 Dec 2018     



fadifai
Algeria

Thank you all dear colleagues for your kind consideration. My own answer was �service � but my students � answers pushed me to think a bit about the situation. Thanks again.

6 Dec 2018     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

One of the examples on that link is  �A notebook is a computer which can be carried around.� I think that �which � refers to the notebook, not the computer. Not all computers can be carried around, but a notebook can. 
�Titanic � is a love story that most people have seen. �That � refers to �Titanic�.  I am still with your students, fadifai! 

7 Dec 2018     



yanogator
United States

I still think you �re wrong, Lynne. Not all computers can be carried around, but a computer that can be carried around is called a notebook. By changing the word order, it is clear that "that" refers to computer, not notebook. The same can be done with the original sentence:
 
A service that enables its users to take pictures is Instagram.
 
Bruce 

7 Dec 2018     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

Hi all. Mmm, having studied the rule, yes, I can see that. It �s a bit counter-intuitive, though... 
 
Lynne  

7 Dec 2018     



redcamarocruiser
United States

Yes, it is counter-intuitive.

7 Dec 2018     

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