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Pructus Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Bought a book for someone

Hello....


John bought a book for Mary.


Can the above mean all three meanings below?

  1. John bought a book and gave it to Mary.
  2. John bought a book to give it to Mary but did’t give it to Mary yet.
  3. Mary gave John some money asking him to buy a book instead of her.
  

Top answer

Not quite. pructus John bought a book and gave it to Mary. John bought a book , and gave it to Mary.

— Karansardana

  • Not quite.
  • pructus John bought a book and gave it to Mary.
  • John bought a book , and gave it to Mary.
  • This would mean, John bought a book, not particularly for Mary, but eventually chose to give that to her.
  • He could have kept that for himself, or could have given that to someone else as well.
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2 Answers
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Not quite.

pructusJohn bought a book and gave it to Mary.

John bought a book, and gave it to Mary.

This would mean, John bought a book, not particularly for Mary, but eventually chose to give that to her. He could have kept that for himself, or could have given that to someone else as well.

pructusJohn bought
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I will rephrase the sentences, to make them clearer.

John bought the book for Mary.

  1. John bought the book to give it to Mary and gave it to Mary.
  2. John bought the book to give it to Mary but did’t give it to Mary yet.
  3. Mary gave John some money to buy the book with and John bought the book for her.
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