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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Difference in meaning
1a) The man dropped the bullet in his mouth.
1b) The man dropped, the bullet in his mouth.
2a) Watch out-man eating apes!
2b) Watch out-man-eating apes!
3a) You will be required to work twenty four-hour shifts.
3b) You will be required to work twenty-four hour shifts.
4a) We order merchandise and sell the products.
4b) We order, merchandise and sell the products.
1b) The man dropped, the bullet in his mouth.
2a) Watch out-man eating apes!
2b) Watch out-man-eating apes!
3a) You will be required to work twenty four-hour shifts.
3b) You will be required to work twenty-four hour shifts.
4a) We order merchandise and sell the products.
4b) We order, merchandise and sell the products.
Top answer
Anonymous 1a) The man dropped the bullet in his mouth. Ambiguous. The bullet which was in his mouth / into his mouth 1b) The man dropped, the bullet in his mouth.
- Anonymous 1a) The man dropped the bullet in his mouth.
- Ambiguous.
- The bullet which was in his mouth / into his mouth 1b) The man dropped, the bullet in his mouth.
- Ungrammatical.
- 2a) Watch out-man eating apes!
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3 Answers
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Anonymous1a) The man dropped the bullet in his mouth. Ambiguous. The bullet which was in his mouth / into his mouth
1b) The man dropped, the bullet in his mouth. Ungrammatical.
2a)Watch out-man eating apes!
2b)Watch o
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For more examples of exactly this type of problem, Lynne Truss' Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a delightful read.
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