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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Ambiguity
how is the sentence " kristen cooked the pasta on the stove" ambiguous?
Top answer
Because I assume the pasta was cooked in a pot of water, I don't find it ambiguous. But then I'm familiar with cooking pasta. I suppose that someone unfamiliar with the kitchen might picture the uncooked spaghetti strewn across the burners of the stove, making a lot of smoke.
- Because I assume the pasta was cooked in a pot of water, I don't find it ambiguous.
- But then I'm familiar with cooking pasta.
- I suppose that someone unfamiliar with the kitchen might picture the uncooked spaghetti strewn across the burners of the stove, making a lot of smoke.
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5 Answers
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Because I assume the pasta was cooked in a pot of water, I don't find it ambiguous. But then I'm familiar with cooking pasta. I suppose that someone unfamiliar with the kitchen might picture the uncooked spaghetti strewn across the burners of the stove, making a lot of smoke. 
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Hi,
how is the sentence " kristen cooked the pasta on the stove" ambiguous?
Perhaps someone might take it to mean that Kristen stood or sat on the stove while she cooked the pasta?
Compare 'Kristen danced the tango on the table'.
Best wishes, Clive
how is the sentence " kristen cooked the pasta on the stove" ambiguous?
Perhaps someone might take it to mean that Kristen stood or sat on the stove while she cooked the pasta?
Compare 'Kristen danced the tango on the table'.
Best wishes, Clive
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Anonymoushow is the sentence " kristen cooked the pasta on the stove" ambiguous?Kristen cooked the pasta while she was sitting on the stove.
Kristen cooked the pasta which was resting on the stove (not that which was resting on the kitchen counter).
Kristen cooked the pasta in a pot of water which was on the stove.
And, if a c
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CalifJimThis is the one which struck me as obvious. Perhaps Kristen cooked it at home and brought it to the party.Anonymoushow is the sentence " kristen cooked the pasta on the stove" ambiguous?Kristen cooked the pasta which was resting on the stove (not that which was resting on the kitchen counter).
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I'd say it could either answer the question "How did Kristen cook the pasta?" or "which pasta did Kristen cook?" (The pasta that's on the stove, the pasta that's on the table, or the pasta that's in the oven?)
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