A Grammar Question

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1

<p>October 2007 Test
section 10.
12. Those enrolled in the leadership training courses have evolved into dynamic, confident managers from "an inexperienced and uncertain newcomer" just a month ago.</p>

<p>In this sentence, "an inexperienced and uncertain newcomer"is not correct because it does not match with "those."</p>

<p>However, I am not sure about the answer: "from the inexperienced and uncertain newcomers they were."
I think the number agreement is good, but I can't understand the expression, "they were."
Please think about this expression: "Those enrolled in the leadership training courses have evolved into dynamic, confident managers from the inexperienced and uncertain newcomers they were a month ago."</p>

<p>"How the clause, they were a month ago, can be related to the whole sentence?
Was the relative pronoun "who" in "the inexperienced and uncertain newcomer (who) they were a month ago” omitted?
Then how can a subjective case relative pronoun be omitted?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance. And excuse me if this is too simple and easy question.</p>

2

<p>

Yes, exactly.</p>

<p>Read this post about this topic: [WordReference</a> Forums - View Single Post - omission of relative pronouns](<a href=“omission of relative pronouns | WordReference Forums”>omission of relative pronouns | WordReference Forums)</p>

<p>Since the modifying phrase “[that] they were” contains a pronoun and a verb, you can omit the relative pronoun “who.” If it contained only a verb, you cannot. For example:</p>

<p>(brackets indicate that omission is possible)
“He is the one that did that.”
“He is the one [that] they did that to.”
This only applies to restrictive clauses, which are defining and essential to the sentence. In the sentence before this, the phrase “which . . . sentence” is a non-restrictive clause. Relative pronouns can never be omitted from non-restrictive clauses.</p>