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Pructus Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
I found the letter in the kitchen
Hi, Dear members and teachers~
It is usually said that the sentence "I found the letter in the kitchen" is ambiguous.
The sentence has two meanings.
The structure is...
1. I found the letter in the kitchen. = Same structure with "I found him in the room" = "I found out that he was in the room".
2. I found the letter in the kitchen = In the kitchen, I found the letter.
So, in the #1, is it like I found the fact that the letter was in the kitchen, even though I hadn't been in the kitchen?
And #2, I was actually in the kitchen, and there, I found the letter?
Am I in good logic and grammar and sense of English?
It is usually said that the sentence "I found the letter in the kitchen" is ambiguous.
The sentence has two meanings.
The structure is...
1. I found the letter in the kitchen. = Same structure with "I found him in the room" = "I found out that he was in the room".
2. I found the letter in the kitchen = In the kitchen, I found the letter.
So, in the #1, is it like I found the fact that the letter was in the kitchen, even though I hadn't been in the kitchen?
And #2, I was actually in the kitchen, and there, I found the letter?
Am I in good logic and grammar and sense of English?
Top answer
pructus So, in the #1, is it like I found the fact that the letter was in the kitchen, even though I hadn't been in the kitchen? No. You always find things where they are and where you are at the same time.
- pructus So, in the #1, is it like I found the fact that the letter was in the kitchen, even though I hadn't been in the kitchen?
- No.
- You always find things where they are and where you are at the same time.
- If both you and the thing to be found are not in the same place, it's not possible to find the thing!
- 1.
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12 Answers
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pructusSo, in the #1, is it like I found the fact that the letter was in the kitchen, even though I hadn't been in the kitchen?No. You always find things where they are and where you are at the same time. If both you and the thing to be
found are not in the same place, it's not possible to find the thing!
1. I found the letter when I was in th
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You are right that there are two different meanings but the difference is very slight. The first meaning is, "when I was in the kitchen, I found the letter." The second is, "I found the letter that is in the kitchen."
It is not true about #1 you not being in the kitchen. A useful way to think about emphases of sentences like this is to think of what question they are answering. So:
It is not true about #1 you not being in the kitchen. A useful way to think about emphases of sentences like this is to think of what question they are answering. So:
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I see... I see...
Well understood...
Thanks a lot, CJ!!
But how about I found out that the letter is in the kitchen through someone I know, for example, my family or someone?
For example, my wife called me that she found it in the kitchen?
In that case, can't I use, 'I found the letter in the kitchen", to mean I found the fact that it is in the kitchen?
Do I have to at
Well understood...
Thanks a lot, CJ!!
But how about I found out that the letter is in the kitchen through someone I know, for example, my family or someone?
For example, my wife called me that she found it in the kitchen?
In that case, can't I use, 'I found the letter in the kitchen", to mean I found the fact that it is in the kitchen?
Do I have to at
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Oh, that is a very good point, to think about which question each one is answering.
I am starting to see the difference you are saying....
Thanks for the information, Anonymous!!
I am starting to see the difference you are saying....
Thanks for the information, Anonymous!!
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pructusFor example, my wife called me that she found it in the kitchen?In that case, can't I use, 'I found the letter in the kitchen", to mean I found the fact that it is in the kitchen?No. You say
I found out that the letter is/was in the kitchen.
OR
My wife told me that she found the letter in the kitchen.
CJ
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I don't see two meanings to this sentence at all. There is one and only one meaning: You were looking for the letter - all over the house is implied here - and you (yourself, personally, not someone else or you heard it was found by someone) found it in the kitchen.
Also, "I found him in the room." does not mean "I found out (from someone) that he was in the room." "I found him in the
Also, "I found him in the room." does not mean "I found out (from someone) that he was in the room." "I found him in the
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Thanks An0nymous!!
So, "I found him in the room" can't be used in the situation that I am in the kitchen and he was in the room?
When I was in the kitchen and he was in the room, so I say, "I found him in the room" ...
This is not allowable to native speakers?
So, "I found him in the room" can't be used in the situation that I am in the kitchen and he was in the room?
When I was in the kitchen and he was in the room, so I say, "I found him in the room" ...
This is not allowable to native speakers?
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pructusSo, "I found him in the room" can't be used in the situation that I am in the kitchen and he was in the room?When I was in the kitchen and he was in the room, so I say, "I found him in the room" ...This is not allowable to native speakers?It's fine. It just doesn't apply in the situation under discussion.
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An0nymousI don't see two meanings to this sentence at all. There is one and only one meaning:I found the letter in the kitchen.
1. There was one letter. I looked for it in several places. It was in the kitchen. That was where I found it.
2. There were several letters, each in a different room. One letter was in the kitchen. That was the on
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