Another fire in Phoenix

Question

1-Another fire in Phoenix was reported this afternoon.2-Another fire was reported this afternoon in Phoenix.3-Another fire was reported in Phoenix this afternoon.4-They reported another fire in Phoenix this afternoon.5-They reported another fire this afternoon in Phoenix.'Another' shows that the speaker has a prior fire or prior fires in mind.In which case:a-the prior fire(s) necessarily took place in Phoenixand in which case:b-we can't tell where the prior fire(s) took place.and in which:c-we can tell for sure that the prior fire(s) did not take place in PhoenixGratefully,Navi.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

This sort of thing has more to do with statistical probabilities than with exact meanings. Mostly, we're just guessing here how most people might interpret these sentences.

When you place "in Phoenix" immediately after "fire", there is a greater probability that the reader will think the other fire was in Phoenix as well. (Cases 1, 4) When you place "in Phoenix" immediately after "reported", there is a greater probability that the reader will think that the reporting was done in Phoenix regardless of where either fire was. (Case 3)

Note. 'another fire' implies only that there were at least two fires. (The fire designated as "another fire" need not be after the first in terms of when it occurred. Perhaps the earlier fire was not discovered to have happened until after the later fire had already been reported.)

a - '1 and 4' is the most likely interpretation
b - 'all but 1 and 4' is the most likely case
c - none - Any of those sentences might have the intention of telling the reader that the fire reported was a fire in Phoenix.

CJ

Another fire in Phoenix

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