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Anonymous Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

A "Why" question with 2 meanings.

When I read the question "Why did you tell her I gave you the present?", I understand 2 meanings. The first one is "What is the reason why you told her that I gave you the present?" and the second one is "What did you tell her as the reason why I gave you the present?".

1) Do I understand right? (Are these 2 meanings possible by this question?)

2) If so, how can I distinguish the meaning, by context or is there another way?

2) If not, which meaning should be understood? The first one or second one?

4) I think that, if we add "that" (Why did you tell her "that" I gave you the present), we can make the meaning the first one (What is the reason why you told her that I gave you the present?), is that right?

  

Top answer

Anonymous 1) Do I understand right? ) Yes. Anonymous 2) If so, how can I distinguish the meaning, by context or is there another way?

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous 1) Do I understand right?
  • ) Yes.
  • Anonymous 2) If so, how can I distinguish the meaning, by context or is there another way?
  • Context, or tone if spoken.
  • ), is that right?
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1 Answers
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Anonymous1) Do I understand right? (Are these 2 meanings possible by this question?)

Yes.

Anonymous2) If so, how can I distinguish the meaning, by context or is there another way?

Context, or tone if spoken.

Anonymous4) I think that, if we add "that" (Why did you tell her "that" I gave y
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