<span style="color:#ff0000;">1) There was a sadness about their son.</span><br/><br/>I think this sentence can mean:<br/><span style="color:#000080;">a) Their son was sad.</span><br/><br/>Could it also mean:<br/><br/><span style="color:#000080;">b) There was a sadness concerning their son.</span><br/><br/>Here It is not the son who is feeling the sadness, but other people -presumably 'they'.<br/><br/>Gratefully,<br/>Navi.