Which way?

metal56 · Post by **metal56** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:03 pm

In which way would you, personally, interpret the following type of sentence?

"Some people {murder/lynch/assassinate/massacre/execute} easily."

1. "Some people" is equivalent to "some killers".

2. "Some people" is equivalent to "some victims".

3. Other.

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:01 pm

I'd pick option 4 - Impossible to say without context, though in fact highly unlikely to be said outside the context of a grammar exercise.

metal56 · Post by **metal56** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:35 am

lolwhites wrote:I'd pick option 4 - Impossible to say without context, though in fact highly unlikely to be said outside the context of a grammar exercise.

Are you sure?

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 4:15 pm

Unsure about it being impossible to say without context or unsure as to its likelihood of being said in the real world (Rasputin notwithstanding

)

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:02 pm

victims

revel · Post by **revel** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:12 pm

Hey all!

Though I see both sides of the coin, I'd try to avoid ambiguity by saying that the victims are easily (put in your favorite death-wish) while the person or persons carrying out the sentence would be described as in metal's original sentences.

peace,
revel.

metal56 · Post by **metal56** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:21 pm

Stephen Jones wrote:victims

Interesting. Most people who have "met" that sentence read it as "killers".

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:06 pm

This certainly is a bit more interesting than exploding suitcases (not that I am a killer, or a suitcase exploder for that matter).

Most people who have "met" that sentence read it as "killers".

Hmm, did their eyes go all glassy and their mouths start twitching or something?

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Which way?

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