Learn English – What does ‘their’ refer to

relative-pronouns

During the last few years, there has been an enormous increase in the number of shops, stores and supermarkets which provide facilities for self-service. Their general purpose is to provide goods of every description attractively and hygienically and in perfect condition, so that the customer can serve herself, and then pay for the goods with the minimum of delay.
(Found at http://www.myanmar-network.net/m/discussion?id=3423487%3ATopic%3A766166)

In the sentence, what does the word 'their' refer to, 'shops, stores and supermarkets' or 'facilities for self-service'?

Best Answer

Their refers to "facilities for self-service", since it's those facilities that "provide goods of every description attractively and hygienically and in perfect condition".

Self-service facilities' general purpose is to provide goods of every description attractively and hygienically and in perfect condition

Although the shops, stores and supermarkets also provide this, the Law of Proximity would lead one to attribute it to self-service facilities.

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