prepositional phrases and embedded clauses

Anonymous the prepositional phrase

Which one?

Sorry, the prepositional phrase "with the tapestries."

Another example: "It is fun to play with toys that belong to friends within the room."

Does "within the room" modify "toys" or "friends"

Anonymous-
I like the paintings that are in the hall with the tapestries.
It is fun to play with toys that belong to friends within the room.

Such constructions are inherently ambiguous. All you can do is guess the structure.

We saw the man with a telescope on the hill probably has three or more interpretations, for example.

Anonymous Example: "I like the paintings that are in the hall with the tapestries."Does the prepositional phrase modify "paintings" or "hall"? Can you explain why?

I like the paintings that are [in the hall with the tapestries].

Neither, is the simple answer! What you have here is a PP (bracketed) functioning as complement

Anonymous“with the tapestries” which is modifying the head of the larger PP, “in”.

I would have said it was modifying the noun hall.

Aspara Gus Anonymous“with the tapestries” which is modifying the head of the larger PP, “in”.I would have said it was modifying the noun hall.

Why would you think that?

JohnS

AnonymousWhy would you think that?

The speaker is referring to a hall with tapestries, isn’t he?

AnonymousWhy would you think that?

I like the paintings that are [in the hall with the tapestries].

It's hard to believe that the alternative is intended:

I like the paintings in the hall when they are [placed beside / seen together with] the tapestries.

Cf. I like the cereal that's in this box with mil