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-- though a bit eccentric...Is this sentence - which isn't incorrect grammatically (so I heard) - viable to more than one interpretation? And what would be a correct interpretation?"The man the dog the cat scared bit left the building." Kind regards

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

The man the dog the cat scared bit left the building. .

The man left the building.
Which man? The man who(m)/that the dog bit.
Which dog? The dog that/which the cat scared,

RandomGuy · Answer

Rubenadriaanthis sentence - which isn't incorrect grammatically (so I heard)

It’s grammatically correct, but very awkward and confusing.

Rubenadriaanviable to more than one interpretation? And what would be a correct interpretation?

I see only one interpretation.

“The man [who the dog [that the cat scared] bit left the building].”

The man who the dog bit left the building. The dog that bit the man is the one that the cat scared.

edit: cross-posted with fivejedjon

Fivejedjon · Answer

Aspara GusIt’s grammatically correct, but very awkward and confusing

I agree.

Anonymous · Answer

Rubenadriaan-- though a bit eccentric...Is this sentence - which isn't incorrect grammatically (so I heard) - viable to more than one interpretation? And what would be a correct interpretation?"The man the dog the cat scared bit left the building." Kind regards

In my opinion, it is grammatically flawed. You need commas and the article "a" there to state that it is grammatically correct. It should be written that way: The man, the dog, the cat scared a bit left the building.

RandomGuy · Answer

AnonymousThe man, the dog, the cat scared a bit left the building.

This is meaningless and ungrammatical.

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