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SunFlowerSeed Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Poll: Sherlock saw the man using binoculars.

0This sentence has a structural ambiguity.02br
00But, I really wonder what does a native think when s/he meets such sentences.02br
02br
00At first, without thinking much, who were using the binoculars ?02br
00I mean what is your first opinion ?0-
  

Top answer

0 It should have been 'who was using the binulars'. But there is no edit button. 0-

— SunFlowerSeed

  • 0 It should have been 'who was using the binulars'.
  • But there is no edit button.
  • 0-
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5 Answers
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0 It should have been 'who was using the binulars'. But there is no edit button. I couldn't change it.0-
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0 Adding the "01i00who was02i00" completely removes the 00ambiguity.00 0-
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0 Interesting question, but did you know that even if we think that the man was using the binoculars, there is yet another ambiguity.02br
02br
00 Do we think that Sherlock saw a certain man -- the man who was using binoculars (as opposed to another man who was using a telescope, for example)?02br
00 Or do we think that Sherlock saw an activity in progress? -
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5000why not?:DIt will be so confusing.010id2
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0 Hmm, maybe the question was wrong. 'Who was using' and 'who used' give different answers.02br
00I should have asked it as 'Who was carrying the binoculars ?'02br
00Thanks for pointing it out.02br
02br
00But, since there is an ambiguity, I wanted to know what is a native's first idea when s/he faces such ambigous sentences.02br
00It is bet
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