Amiguity

[nq:1]I know these following sentences can be interpreted in two ways. Can you tell me how can be? 1.The professor's appointment was shocking.[/nq]
The writer may be shocked that the professor was undeservedly appointed to a new job OR that the professor appointed someone unsuitable to a job in his department. The 's ending is sometimes capable of being interpreted as active or passive, with t

[nq:1]I know these following sentences can be interpreted in two ways.[/nq]
Yes and no.
[nq:1]Can you tell me how can be? 1.The professor's appointment was shocking.[/nq]
means either that the appointment OF the professor was shocking, or that the appointment BY the professor was shocking. Which is meant can be worked out from the context.
[nq:1]2.I can not recommend him too highly

[nq:2]1.The professor's appointment was shocking.[/nq]
[nq:1]The writer may be shocked that the professor was undeservedly appointed to a new job OR that the professor appointed ... The 's ending is sometimes capable of being interpreted as active or passive, with the sense determined by the context.[/nq]
"Appointment" also has another meaning - an arrangement to do something (usually to m

[nq:2]The writer may be shocked that the professor was undeservedly ... active or passive, with the sense determined by the context.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Appointment" also has another meaning - an arrangement to do something (usually to meet someone) at a specified time. Admittedly, ... could be the professor, the author, or some unspecified third person. Out of context, almost anything can be amiguous

[nq:2]1.The professor's appointment was shocking.[/nq]
[nq:1]means either that the appointment OF the professor was shocking, or that the appointment BY the professor was shocking.[/nq]
Or that he had an appointment for electro-convulsive therapy.

Michael DeBusk, Co-Conspirator to Make the World a Better Place Did he update

[nq:2]means either that the appointment OF the professor was shocking, or that the appointment BY the professor was shocking.[/nq]
[nq:1]Or that he had an appointment for electro-convulsive therapy.[/nq]
An interpretation that preserves the ambiguity:
the prof could still be the shocker or the shockee.
john

Alan Jones wrote, in part:
[nq:1]"KJH" wrote, in part:[/nq]
[nq:2]I know these following sentences can be interpreted in two ways. Can you tell me how can be?(...mc) 3.No smoking section available.[/nq]
[nq:1]This can mean "No special section is available for smokers" or "There is a special section available for non-smokers". Any ambiguity can be resolved by a hyphen: "No-smoking secti

[nq:1]I know these following sentences can be interpreted in two ways. Can you tell me how can be? 1.The professor's appointment was shocking. 2.I can not recommend him too highly. 3.No smoking section available.[/nq]
You will be very lucky if you get him to work for you. He will be fired with enthusiasm.

[nq:2]3.No smoking section available.[/nq]
[nq:1]This can mean "No special section is available for smokers" or "There is a special section available for non-smokers". Any ... and (perhaps) "No smoking-section available". The second is understandable but not idiomatic, and I'd prefer "No section available for smokers"[/nq]
What is more often seen (at least, here) is "This is a non-smoking

[nq:2]=20 This can mean "No special section is available for ... not idiomatic, and I'd prefer "No section available for smokers"[/nq]
[nq:1]What is more often seen (at least, here) is "This is a non-smoking =facility"[/nq]
Must be a relief to the fire department.