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Navitasan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Like/as to
1) She kissed him like a child.
2) She gave him a kiss like a child.
3) She gave him a kiss as to a child.
I think the meaning of '3' is clear, but '1' and '2' are ambiguous. We can't tell who was like a child.
Am I correct?
Gratefully,
Navi.
2) She gave him a kiss like a child.
3) She gave him a kiss as to a child.
I think the meaning of '3' is clear, but '1' and '2' are ambiguous. We can't tell who was like a child.
Am I correct?
Gratefully,
Navi.
Top answer
Pleasse clarify. Do you mean that she kissed him in the way that she would kiss a child? Or do you mean that the kiss was child-like, ie the way a child would kiss?
- Pleasse clarify.
- Do you mean that she kissed him in the way that she would kiss a child?
- Or do you mean that the kiss was child-like, ie the way a child would kiss?
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4 Answers
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Pleasse clarify.
Do you mean that she kissed him in the way that she would kiss a child?
Or do you mean that the kiss was child-like, ie the way a child would kiss?
Do you mean that she kissed him in the way that she would kiss a child?
Or do you mean that the kiss was child-like, ie the way a child would kiss?
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ClivePleasse clarify.Do you mean that she kissed him in the way that she would kiss a child?Or do you mean that the kiss was child-like, ie the way a child would kiss?I believe this is what navitasan is asking: which sentences have which meaning.
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Thank you very much GPY and Clive,
GPY is right. I was wondering which ones were ambiguous. I said that I thought '1' and '2' were ambiguous and '3' was not.
I think in '3' it is clear that she kisses him as if he were a child.
In '1' and '2', one cannot tell who is like a child. Does she kiss him as if she were a child or as if he were a child.
So, the question is b
GPY is right. I was wondering which ones were ambiguous. I said that I thought '1' and '2' were ambiguous and '3' was not.
I think in '3' it is clear that she kisses him as if he were a child.
In '1' and '2', one cannot tell who is like a child. Does she kiss him as if she were a child or as if he were a child.
So, the question is b
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Yes, I agree with your interpretation. Unambiguous versions include (as you suggest)
eg She kissed him as if he were a child.
eg She kissed him as if she were a child.
#3 is correct but uncommon wording.
eg She kissed him as if he were a child.
eg She kissed him as if she were a child.
#3 is correct but uncommon wording.
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