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A relative clause is a clause that modifies a noun or noun phrase.

Can a relative clause modify a noun and a noun phrase at the same time?

Example 1

An ripe apple that has been cut into pieces and rice that are going to be cooked together should be prepared right now

that are going to be cooked together is a relative clause.

A ripe apple that has been cut into pieces is a noun phrase.

rice is a noun only.

Can the relative clause modify An apple I bought yesterday and rice at the same time?

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    This is technically correct but needlessly complicated. Many readers will get lost in such a sentence. Commented Jul 31, 2022 at 7:38
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    @JeffreyCarney is correct. Because of the parallel structure (a ripe apple that ... and rice that ...) a reader is likely to think that the rice will be cooked together and the apple is cut into pieces.
    – Peter
    Commented Jul 31, 2022 at 8:02
  • A chopped apple... (Would you cook with an unripe one?) Commented Jul 31, 2022 at 8:11

1 Answer 1

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There is no rule that prevents this, but your specific example is so complicated that it would be considered poor English.

English, like every other natural language, has a recursive structure, for example a noun phrase can contain a clause that contains a noun phrase. There is no rule for saying how deep and how complete this kind of structure can go. But beyond a certain point, it becomes increasingly incomprehensible. As an aim of good English is to communicate, pushing what is possible in grammar so it hard to understand is not a good idea.

A good principle to apply is is "end weight". Place longer and weightier elements at the end of sentences. A fault in your sentence is that it violates this principle by forming an overly long subject.

Applying those rules, and making a few minor modifications gives:

You should now prepare a chopped apple and some rice that you will cook together.

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