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Jander52 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Ambiguous sentence's

Howdy,

I'm having trouble figuring out the two meanings of this sentence

I should ask the officer who works in the park when we leave

there are two meanings to this sentence but i can't figure them out

thanks
  

Top answer

" Actually, going back to your example, I can think of five possible meanings, although some of them would require different punctuation. I should ask the officer who works in the park when we leave 1) I should ask (the officer who works in the park), "When do we leave? 2) I should ask (the officer who works in the park) (some unspecified question) (as we are in the process of leaving).

— Khoff

  • " Actually, going back to your example, I can think of five possible meanings, although some of them would require different punctuation.
  • I should ask the officer who works in the park when we leave 1) I should ask (the officer who works in the park), "When do we leave?
  • 2) I should ask (the officer who works in the park) (some unspecified question) (as we are in the process of leaving).
  • 3) I should ask (the officer who works in the park when we leave) some question.
  • " Not all of these are very plausible, but they are all possible meanings for these words, given the proper intonation and punctuation.
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4 Answers
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The ambiguity might be clearer if we simplify the sentence:

"Ask John when we leave."

1) As we are walking out the door, ask John (about something that is not specified in this sentence.)

2) Ask John, "John, when do we leave?"

Actually, going back to your example, I can think of five possible meanings, although some of them would require differe
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Hello J.,

Try:

1. I should ask the officer (who works in the park) when we leave

2. I should ask the officer who works in the park when [= at what time] we leave

3. I should ask the officer "who works in the park" when we leave

4. I should ask the officer "who works in the park when we leave?"

MrP
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Hey, Mr. P. -- you were quicker, but I found one more!
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In fact, you were quicker, and you found one more!

(Someone must be able to find a 6th...)
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