Discuss the use of 'which' in relative clauses of purpose.

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Discuss the use of 'which' in relative clauses of purpose.

In relative clauses of purpose, the word 'which' is commonly used to introduce additional information about the purpose or reason behind an action. These clauses provide more details about the main clause and help to clarify the intention or goal of the action being described.

The relative pronoun 'which' is used to refer to a thing or an idea mentioned in the main clause. It is often preceded by a comma and followed by a verb or a noun phrase. The purpose of using 'which' in relative clauses is to add descriptive or explanatory information that is not essential to the main clause but provides additional context.

For example:

1. I bought a new laptop, which I use for work.
In this sentence, the relative clause "which I use for work" provides additional information about the laptop. It explains the purpose of the laptop, indicating that it is used for work.

2. She wore a red dress, which caught everyone's attention.
Here, the relative clause "which caught everyone's attention" adds information about the dress. It explains the purpose of the dress, which was to attract attention.

3. He joined a gym, which helped him lose weight.
In this sentence, the relative clause "which helped him lose weight" provides additional information about the gym. It explains the purpose of joining the gym, which was to aid in weight loss.

It is important to note that 'which' is used for non-restrictive relative clauses, which means that the information provided is not essential to the meaning of the main clause. If the information is essential, a restrictive relative clause is used, and 'that' is typically used instead of 'which'.

In conclusion, 'which' is commonly used in relative clauses of purpose to provide additional information about the reason or intention behind an action. It adds descriptive or explanatory details that help to clarify the purpose of the noun or idea mentioned in the main clause.