dragon whose tail was/is golden flies....

[Raggyn]

Which one is correct?



A-The dragon whose tail was golden flies like a bird.


B-The dragon whose tail is golden flies like a bird.


C-The dragon with golden tail flies like a bird.

 

[lingobingo]

A is not good, because you've mixed the tenses.

B is okay but is a strange way of saying it.

C is the neatest, but "golden tail" needs an article (I would suggest "the").

 

[boozer]

A. - the listener is expected to know that there is a dragon, whose tail was (but no longer is) golden. No information about the current colour of the dragon's tail
B. - see Lingo's explanation
C. - I agree with LingoB, but I believe the first 'the' covers the tail as well, so the second definite article is optional really (Edit: ahh, I am confused Sounds to me fine without an article, or, at least, I would not slash my wrists over its absence )

 

[Phoebe1200]

C is the neatest, but "golden tail" needs an article (I would suggest "the").

Can it be "a"?

The dragon with a golden tail flies like a bird.

 

[grassy]

If the dragon has many tails, why not.

 

[Phoebe1200]

If the dragon has many tails, why not.

So, if he only has one tail then only "the" works. Thanks.

 

[lingobingo]

Can it be "a"?

The dragon with a golden tail flies like a bird.

Yes, of course it can. As always, context governs which would be the better choice — but here we don't know the context!
So, without knowing what story this is part of, we're left with the nuance between definite and indefinite articles.

The dragon with a golden tail — tends to imply that he's one of several but the others have different-coloured tails
The dragon with the golden tail — makes us think this is the only such dragon and he's probably rather special

 

[Phoebe1200]

Thank you.

The dragon with a golden tail — tends to imply that he's one of several but the others have different-coloured tails

So the indefinite article doesn't indicate that he has many tails?

 

[dojibear]

There are two different meanings for this sentence in English:

1. The dragon flies like a bird, and the dragon's tail is golden.

2. One of the dragons (the one with a golden tail) flies like a bird.

Using sentence C ("The dragon with a/the golden tail") creates meaning 2, whether "a" or "the" is used.

Using sentence B as written also creates meaning 2.

To create meaning 1, use sentence B and add commas or parentheses ("brackets" in BE):

B1: The dragon, whose tail is golden, flies like a bird.
B1: The dragon (whose tail is golden) flies like a bird.

 

[Raggyn]

Thank you guys so much, I appreciate everyone's replies.