tape that changed my life
- Thread starter Lazarus
- Start date
la reine victoria
Banned
England, English
Hi Lazarus,
It depends on whether or not this was the first ever gift from the person's father (it does happen!) or whether hearing the Beatles' tape led the person on to becoming very keen on rock music - perhaps forming his own group.
Somewhat ambiguous.
LRV
Hi, Laz. If I were you, I would put your question this way:
Does the "which" after a comma denote "My father bought...on tape," or "the tape itself?"
And the key to it is held by you not us.
This is much simpler. The answer is only one option.
Murphy
Senior Member
English, UK
Now it would mean the tape changed your life, but not what was recorded on it.
To have any real sense, the sentence needs a comma and you should use "which" as the relative pronoun. However, as previously stated, it can mean either the gift of the tape changed your life, or the Beatles' recording on the tape changed your life.
mgarizona
Senior Member
US - American English
I don't know. "On tape that changed my life" sounds almost as though the material tape, and not what was recorded on it, had this life-altering effect.
I assume what actually changed your life was hearing the Beatles' debut. Of course it might well be the fact of your father buying you something. It's hard to say.
If it is the hearing, then that life-change is not part of the presentation of the tape, and so I'd suggest a future tense:
Consider:
My father bought me a tape of the Beatles' debut, which would change my life.
(You could as well use "a copy on tape of" if you prefer.)
I assume what actually changed your life was hearing the Beatles' debut. Of course it might well be the fact of your father buying you something. It's hard to say.
If it is the hearing, then that life-change is not part of the presentation of the tape, and so I'd suggest a future tense:
Consider:
My father bought me a tape of the Beatles' debut, which would change my life.
(You could as well use "a copy on tape of" if you prefer.)