What is the meaning of the phrase “Those who”?












1















There is a question asking a student to fill in the word.
Heaven helps those ( ) help themselves. The answer is "who"
Is this "who" is a relative pronoun? What is the meaning of this word?










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    – user140086
    Jan 28 '16 at 2:37
















1















There is a question asking a student to fill in the word.
Heaven helps those ( ) help themselves. The answer is "who"
Is this "who" is a relative pronoun? What is the meaning of this word?










share|improve this question























  • Welcome to EL&U. For future questions, I'd like to advise you to visit our sister site English Language Learners, but please make sure you take the tour and visit their Help Center before posting any question. Please don't post the same question on ELL.

    – user140086
    Jan 28 '16 at 2:37














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1








There is a question asking a student to fill in the word.
Heaven helps those ( ) help themselves. The answer is "who"
Is this "who" is a relative pronoun? What is the meaning of this word?










share|improve this question














There is a question asking a student to fill in the word.
Heaven helps those ( ) help themselves. The answer is "who"
Is this "who" is a relative pronoun? What is the meaning of this word?







grammaticality






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asked Jan 28 '16 at 1:24









KoorogiKoorogi

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  • Welcome to EL&U. For future questions, I'd like to advise you to visit our sister site English Language Learners, but please make sure you take the tour and visit their Help Center before posting any question. Please don't post the same question on ELL.

    – user140086
    Jan 28 '16 at 2:37



















  • Welcome to EL&U. For future questions, I'd like to advise you to visit our sister site English Language Learners, but please make sure you take the tour and visit their Help Center before posting any question. Please don't post the same question on ELL.

    – user140086
    Jan 28 '16 at 2:37

















Welcome to EL&U. For future questions, I'd like to advise you to visit our sister site English Language Learners, but please make sure you take the tour and visit their Help Center before posting any question. Please don't post the same question on ELL.

– user140086
Jan 28 '16 at 2:37





Welcome to EL&U. For future questions, I'd like to advise you to visit our sister site English Language Learners, but please make sure you take the tour and visit their Help Center before posting any question. Please don't post the same question on ELL.

– user140086
Jan 28 '16 at 2:37










3 Answers
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"Those" is a fused determiner-head in which the determiner ("those") and the head ("people") are combined, or "fused" into a single word. Your example can be glossed as "Heaven helps those people who help themselves", from which the antecedent of "who” is clearly "people".



"People" refers to some arbitrary sub-group who ‘help themselves’.






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    0














    While the word is missing, that phrase, and similar phrases, are usually about people. 'Who' is a relative pronoun. You use 'who' to connect someone to something, usually an action or trait. Usually to use 'who' and related words the person or people in question are not known. It is used for general statements, keeping it open to whoever it can possibly apply to.



    For example an equivalent way to say that phrase would be "Heaven helps people that help themselves." It's quite obvious what we're talking about here but it doesn't sound as eloquent, which is the main reason for talking in a style that the original question uses.



    Here are some examples of the usage of who in a similar manner:




    • "Do you know who did this?" "No, I do not know who did this."

    • "Actually she was the one who was responsible for that."

    • He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

    • "To whoever took the 'L' from the motor pool sign: ha ha we are all very amused."






    share|improve this answer


























    • Hmmm that doesn't seem correct to me: "Your Dad, who is the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." Here the owrd who refers to 'your Dad' who is obviously someone well-known to both speaker and listener.

      – Araucaria
      Jan 28 '16 at 10:17











    • I said it is usually used this way but not always. Technically you could also say "Your dad, the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." 'Who' kinda acts like glue in that way. At that point though it's more a of a stylistic thing.

      – malicedShade
      Jan 29 '16 at 2:49











    • I suppose the thing is that whenever the clause is a non-defining relative clause, we definitely know the identity of the who. If the clause is a defining relative clause then we know the identity of the who from the clause itself, an if that clause is definite then we probably know who the who is as it were. Compare That is the man who ..... and He is a man who ...., so it's actually quite complicated!

      – Araucaria
      Jan 29 '16 at 13:15











    • Details (context) really do make all the difference.

      – malicedShade
      Jan 30 '16 at 4:19



















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    Those Who Are.................






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      3 Answers
      3






      active

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      3 Answers
      3






      active

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      active

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      active

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      1














      "Those" is a fused determiner-head in which the determiner ("those") and the head ("people") are combined, or "fused" into a single word. Your example can be glossed as "Heaven helps those people who help themselves", from which the antecedent of "who” is clearly "people".



      "People" refers to some arbitrary sub-group who ‘help themselves’.






      share|improve this answer




























        1














        "Those" is a fused determiner-head in which the determiner ("those") and the head ("people") are combined, or "fused" into a single word. Your example can be glossed as "Heaven helps those people who help themselves", from which the antecedent of "who” is clearly "people".



        "People" refers to some arbitrary sub-group who ‘help themselves’.






        share|improve this answer


























          1












          1








          1







          "Those" is a fused determiner-head in which the determiner ("those") and the head ("people") are combined, or "fused" into a single word. Your example can be glossed as "Heaven helps those people who help themselves", from which the antecedent of "who” is clearly "people".



          "People" refers to some arbitrary sub-group who ‘help themselves’.






          share|improve this answer













          "Those" is a fused determiner-head in which the determiner ("those") and the head ("people") are combined, or "fused" into a single word. Your example can be glossed as "Heaven helps those people who help themselves", from which the antecedent of "who” is clearly "people".



          "People" refers to some arbitrary sub-group who ‘help themselves’.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Jan 28 '16 at 9:37









          BillJBillJ

          4,2511913




          4,2511913

























              0














              While the word is missing, that phrase, and similar phrases, are usually about people. 'Who' is a relative pronoun. You use 'who' to connect someone to something, usually an action or trait. Usually to use 'who' and related words the person or people in question are not known. It is used for general statements, keeping it open to whoever it can possibly apply to.



              For example an equivalent way to say that phrase would be "Heaven helps people that help themselves." It's quite obvious what we're talking about here but it doesn't sound as eloquent, which is the main reason for talking in a style that the original question uses.



              Here are some examples of the usage of who in a similar manner:




              • "Do you know who did this?" "No, I do not know who did this."

              • "Actually she was the one who was responsible for that."

              • He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

              • "To whoever took the 'L' from the motor pool sign: ha ha we are all very amused."






              share|improve this answer


























              • Hmmm that doesn't seem correct to me: "Your Dad, who is the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." Here the owrd who refers to 'your Dad' who is obviously someone well-known to both speaker and listener.

                – Araucaria
                Jan 28 '16 at 10:17











              • I said it is usually used this way but not always. Technically you could also say "Your dad, the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." 'Who' kinda acts like glue in that way. At that point though it's more a of a stylistic thing.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 29 '16 at 2:49











              • I suppose the thing is that whenever the clause is a non-defining relative clause, we definitely know the identity of the who. If the clause is a defining relative clause then we know the identity of the who from the clause itself, an if that clause is definite then we probably know who the who is as it were. Compare That is the man who ..... and He is a man who ...., so it's actually quite complicated!

                – Araucaria
                Jan 29 '16 at 13:15











              • Details (context) really do make all the difference.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 30 '16 at 4:19
















              0














              While the word is missing, that phrase, and similar phrases, are usually about people. 'Who' is a relative pronoun. You use 'who' to connect someone to something, usually an action or trait. Usually to use 'who' and related words the person or people in question are not known. It is used for general statements, keeping it open to whoever it can possibly apply to.



              For example an equivalent way to say that phrase would be "Heaven helps people that help themselves." It's quite obvious what we're talking about here but it doesn't sound as eloquent, which is the main reason for talking in a style that the original question uses.



              Here are some examples of the usage of who in a similar manner:




              • "Do you know who did this?" "No, I do not know who did this."

              • "Actually she was the one who was responsible for that."

              • He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

              • "To whoever took the 'L' from the motor pool sign: ha ha we are all very amused."






              share|improve this answer


























              • Hmmm that doesn't seem correct to me: "Your Dad, who is the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." Here the owrd who refers to 'your Dad' who is obviously someone well-known to both speaker and listener.

                – Araucaria
                Jan 28 '16 at 10:17











              • I said it is usually used this way but not always. Technically you could also say "Your dad, the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." 'Who' kinda acts like glue in that way. At that point though it's more a of a stylistic thing.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 29 '16 at 2:49











              • I suppose the thing is that whenever the clause is a non-defining relative clause, we definitely know the identity of the who. If the clause is a defining relative clause then we know the identity of the who from the clause itself, an if that clause is definite then we probably know who the who is as it were. Compare That is the man who ..... and He is a man who ...., so it's actually quite complicated!

                – Araucaria
                Jan 29 '16 at 13:15











              • Details (context) really do make all the difference.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 30 '16 at 4:19














              0












              0








              0







              While the word is missing, that phrase, and similar phrases, are usually about people. 'Who' is a relative pronoun. You use 'who' to connect someone to something, usually an action or trait. Usually to use 'who' and related words the person or people in question are not known. It is used for general statements, keeping it open to whoever it can possibly apply to.



              For example an equivalent way to say that phrase would be "Heaven helps people that help themselves." It's quite obvious what we're talking about here but it doesn't sound as eloquent, which is the main reason for talking in a style that the original question uses.



              Here are some examples of the usage of who in a similar manner:




              • "Do you know who did this?" "No, I do not know who did this."

              • "Actually she was the one who was responsible for that."

              • He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

              • "To whoever took the 'L' from the motor pool sign: ha ha we are all very amused."






              share|improve this answer















              While the word is missing, that phrase, and similar phrases, are usually about people. 'Who' is a relative pronoun. You use 'who' to connect someone to something, usually an action or trait. Usually to use 'who' and related words the person or people in question are not known. It is used for general statements, keeping it open to whoever it can possibly apply to.



              For example an equivalent way to say that phrase would be "Heaven helps people that help themselves." It's quite obvious what we're talking about here but it doesn't sound as eloquent, which is the main reason for talking in a style that the original question uses.



              Here are some examples of the usage of who in a similar manner:




              • "Do you know who did this?" "No, I do not know who did this."

              • "Actually she was the one who was responsible for that."

              • He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

              • "To whoever took the 'L' from the motor pool sign: ha ha we are all very amused."







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Jan 28 '16 at 2:30

























              answered Jan 28 '16 at 2:24









              malicedShademalicedShade

              67035




              67035













              • Hmmm that doesn't seem correct to me: "Your Dad, who is the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." Here the owrd who refers to 'your Dad' who is obviously someone well-known to both speaker and listener.

                – Araucaria
                Jan 28 '16 at 10:17











              • I said it is usually used this way but not always. Technically you could also say "Your dad, the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." 'Who' kinda acts like glue in that way. At that point though it's more a of a stylistic thing.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 29 '16 at 2:49











              • I suppose the thing is that whenever the clause is a non-defining relative clause, we definitely know the identity of the who. If the clause is a defining relative clause then we know the identity of the who from the clause itself, an if that clause is definite then we probably know who the who is as it were. Compare That is the man who ..... and He is a man who ...., so it's actually quite complicated!

                – Araucaria
                Jan 29 '16 at 13:15











              • Details (context) really do make all the difference.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 30 '16 at 4:19



















              • Hmmm that doesn't seem correct to me: "Your Dad, who is the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." Here the owrd who refers to 'your Dad' who is obviously someone well-known to both speaker and listener.

                – Araucaria
                Jan 28 '16 at 10:17











              • I said it is usually used this way but not always. Technically you could also say "Your dad, the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." 'Who' kinda acts like glue in that way. At that point though it's more a of a stylistic thing.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 29 '16 at 2:49











              • I suppose the thing is that whenever the clause is a non-defining relative clause, we definitely know the identity of the who. If the clause is a defining relative clause then we know the identity of the who from the clause itself, an if that clause is definite then we probably know who the who is as it were. Compare That is the man who ..... and He is a man who ...., so it's actually quite complicated!

                – Araucaria
                Jan 29 '16 at 13:15











              • Details (context) really do make all the difference.

                – malicedShade
                Jan 30 '16 at 4:19

















              Hmmm that doesn't seem correct to me: "Your Dad, who is the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." Here the owrd who refers to 'your Dad' who is obviously someone well-known to both speaker and listener.

              – Araucaria
              Jan 28 '16 at 10:17





              Hmmm that doesn't seem correct to me: "Your Dad, who is the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." Here the owrd who refers to 'your Dad' who is obviously someone well-known to both speaker and listener.

              – Araucaria
              Jan 28 '16 at 10:17













              I said it is usually used this way but not always. Technically you could also say "Your dad, the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." 'Who' kinda acts like glue in that way. At that point though it's more a of a stylistic thing.

              – malicedShade
              Jan 29 '16 at 2:49





              I said it is usually used this way but not always. Technically you could also say "Your dad, the most generous guy I've ever met, has invited me to go to his villa in Spain." 'Who' kinda acts like glue in that way. At that point though it's more a of a stylistic thing.

              – malicedShade
              Jan 29 '16 at 2:49













              I suppose the thing is that whenever the clause is a non-defining relative clause, we definitely know the identity of the who. If the clause is a defining relative clause then we know the identity of the who from the clause itself, an if that clause is definite then we probably know who the who is as it were. Compare That is the man who ..... and He is a man who ...., so it's actually quite complicated!

              – Araucaria
              Jan 29 '16 at 13:15





              I suppose the thing is that whenever the clause is a non-defining relative clause, we definitely know the identity of the who. If the clause is a defining relative clause then we know the identity of the who from the clause itself, an if that clause is definite then we probably know who the who is as it were. Compare That is the man who ..... and He is a man who ...., so it's actually quite complicated!

              – Araucaria
              Jan 29 '16 at 13:15













              Details (context) really do make all the difference.

              – malicedShade
              Jan 30 '16 at 4:19





              Details (context) really do make all the difference.

              – malicedShade
              Jan 30 '16 at 4:19











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              Those Who Are.................






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                Those Who Are.................






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                  Those Who Are.................






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                  Those Who Are.................







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                  share|improve this answer






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                  answered 18 mins ago









                  Vee StormVee Storm

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                  Vee Storm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  Vee Storm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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