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Ellisa Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Structural ambiguity

Hello teachers!

Here is a structurally ambiguous example sentence;

Two cars were reported stolen by the Groveton police yesterday.

and I get the two different meanings which are 'police reported the case' and ' police stole the two cars'.

But in terms of structural ambiguity, how can I explain the difference?

Like, ____ is the subject, _____ is object....

As always, thanks in advance! ;D
  

Top answer

Hi, I would explain it this way. The reader is not sure whether the phrase 'by the Groveton police' is intended to modify 'reported' or 'stolen'. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, I would explain it this way.
  • The reader is not sure whether the phrase 'by the Groveton police' is intended to modify 'reported' or 'stolen'.
  • Clive
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2 Answers
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Hi,

I would explain it this way.

The reader is not sure whether the phrase 'by the Groveton police' is intended to modify 'reported' or 'stolen'.

Clive
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It's difficult to explain in terms of subject/object because there is no definitive subject and object in the sentence...which is why it is ambiguious. And...there's more than two ways the sentence can be read.

The issue is misplaced/missing modifiers and participles.

cars (two)

reported

stolen

police (Groveton)

yesterday

[The] Grovet
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