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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:58 am Post subject: Confusing sentences |
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Mr. Lee told Mr. Abrams that he was getting a raise.
So, who's getting the raise?
How would you clear up this sentence? Would you just assume it was Mr. Abrams who was getting the raise, which usually would be true?
Just one example of a confusing sentence. Feel free to add others. |
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Woland
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:42 am Post subject: Re: Confusing sentences |
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| jajdude wrote: |
Mr. Lee told Mr. Abrams that he was getting a raise.
So, who's getting the raise?
How would you clear up this sentence? Would you just assume it was Mr. Abrams who was getting the raise, which usually would be true?
Just one example of a confusing sentence. Feel free to add others. |
The sentence is ambiguous because the pronoun falls within the scope of both proper nouns.
I would disambiguate it by arranging a sex change for one of the two gents.
(Seriously, context will usually disambiguate sentences like this.) |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:55 am Post subject: Re: Confusing sentences |
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| Woland wrote: |
| I would disambiguate it by arranging a sex change for one of the two gents. |
"Mr. Lee told Jessica Alba that he was getting a raise." |
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Woland
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:18 am Post subject: Re: Confusing sentences |
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| gang ah jee wrote: |
| Woland wrote: |
| I would disambiguate it by arranging a sex change for one of the two gents. |
"Mr. Lee told Jessica Alba that he was getting a raise." |
Joke # 1:
I don't think the doctor could do that good a job
Joke # 2:
Jess told Mr. Lee she thought he was happy to see her
Joke # 3:
You're hoping jinju will read this |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:37 am Post subject: |
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I recall a couple of statements actually used by commentators during baseball games. Just jokes though.
"And now Smith, the relief pitcher, is throwing up in the bullpen."
"It's a deep fly, the outfielder is going back to try to catch it, ouch, his head hit the wall, and now it's rolling away..." |
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Squid
Joined: 25 Jul 2003
Location: Sunny Anyang
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:00 am Post subject: |
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Q: So, is this where we take a left?
A: Right! |
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