Modifiers (that or whom CAN or MUST be dropped?)

[paty.mogollon]

Hello,

I have a question about an explanation on the MGAMAT, "Sentence Correction"book, page 87.

That or whom CAN be dropped when the modified noun is the object of the modifying clause.

Wrong: The movie THAT we watched las Friday was scary.
Right: The movie we watched las Friday was scary.

My question: That or whom CAN or MUST be dropped when the modified noun is the object of the modifying clause?

1. If it CAN be dropped, why the last example is wrong?
2. If it MUST be dropped, why the following example (from the MGMAT "Sentence Correction"page 87) is right?

Right: The security guard WHOM we met was nice.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Patricia

[RonPurewal]

I'm looking at my copy right now. In my copy, both of those sentences are marked "Right".

Is yours different?

[Jov]

Yes, it is different in my version. Could you please advise whether both of these sentences are right and dropping of that/whom is optional or ....?

[Jov]

Thanks a lot for the reply.

What I understood till this point just the summary of that and there are some doubts mentioned in bold:

That

(Connector or whatever we want to call it)
I suggest that you write the book.

Modifying Subject
The mansion that has been painted red is owned by the Lees.

Modifying object
-The movie that we watched last Friday was scary. (I assume that it is write as RON said that in his version of Manhattan SC guide this sentence marks as a right one.)
-The movie we watched last Friday was scary.

Which

"Which" as subject

The longest highway in the United States is Interstate 90, which extends from Seattle to Boston.

"Which" as object:

This piece is Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which he wrote shortly before his death.

Drop issue -

Can we drop which from this sentence and write in this way:

This piece is Beethoven's Ninth Symphony he wrote shortly before his death.
(Example - Here are things we can do)
I want to understand in general that if we can drop which if it is modifying objects. (Such as we can do with That/Whom)

Which coming with Prepositions:

The mansion for which I yearn is owned by the lees.

Drop Issue
Can we drop which from this sentence and write in this way:
The mansion for I yearn is owned by the lees.
In my understanding in such cases we cant remove which.Please advise.

Whom-

The security guard whom we met was nice.
The security guard we met was nice.
(Are they both right?)

[RonPurewal]

Can we drop which from this sentence and write in this way:

This piece is Beethoven's Ninth Symphony he wrote shortly before his death.

You can (sometimes) drop "that", but you can never drop ", which".

The mansion for which I yearn is owned by the lees.

Drop Issue
Can we drop which from this sentence and write in this way:
The mansion for I yearn is owned by the lees.

No.

The security guard whom we met was nice.
The security guard we met was nice.
(Are they both right?)

Yes.

[paty.mogollon]

Thank you!

So, I understand that :

1. That or whom CAN be dropped when the modified noun is the object of the modifying clause.
2. So, "The movie that we watched last Friday was scary." is right.

Is it like that?

I have the MGMAT 5th Ed.

[RonPurewal]

You can write "The movie that we watched last Friday night..."

You can also write "The movie we watched last Friday night..."

Both are acceptable.

[pravin22jd]

Can we drop which from this sentence and write in this way:

This piece is Beethoven's Ninth Symphony he wrote shortly before his death.

You can (sometimes) drop "that", but you can never drop ", which".

Hello Ron,
is your statement about "which" is specific to this example or it is in general.

My understanding is that "which" can be dropped if it is part of non-essential modifier.
e.g.(From MGMAT Ed 5)
This mansion, WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY PAINTED RED, is owned by the Lees.

Here "WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY PAINTED RED" can be removed as its non essential modifier.

Please correct me if my understanding is wrong.

[RonPurewal]

You're talking about whether you can remove the entire modifier.

The discussion was about whether you can remove "that" or "which" WITHOUT removing the rest of the modifier. If that wasn't clear, you may want to read through the discussion again.