Five children's friends
Our yard was a gathering spot for our five children's friends.
One summer night we all played hide-and-seek and had so much fun we lost track of time. Unknown to me, a police officer had cruised by and noticed my 16-year-old daughter running, then ducking into the shadows.
The officer stopped her and asked if she knew how late it was, He demanded to know where her parents were. "Well," she replied, "Mom is up that tree, and I haven't found Dad yet."
I don't understand "five children's friends" here? Does the author have five children or does the children have five friends? Thank you in advance.
Top answer
English is not a good language for such things. It relies a lot on the instincts of the listener, and it is often ambiguous no matter what you do. In this case though, it is pretty clear.
- English is not a good language for such things.
- It relies a lot on the instincts of the listener, and it is often ambiguous no matter what you do.
- In this case though, it is pretty clear.
- The reader sees "our five children" and the rest falls into place automatically.
- The family includes five children, and those five children and their friends, we don't know how many friends, gathered there.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
English is not a good language for such things. It relies a lot on the instincts of the listener, and it is often ambiguous no matter what you do. In this case though, it is pretty clear. The reader sees "our five children" and the rest falls into place automatically. The family includes five children, and those five children and their friends, we don't know how many friends, gathered there.
0"Our five children's friends" can have only one meaning in English: the speaker has 5 children and those children have friends.
0
Related Questions