Three of Tolstoy's books
1) John knew that I had read three of Tolstoy's books.
Is this sentence ambiguous?
One meaning: I had read three of Tolstoy's books and John knew that.
Second meaning: There were three books by Tolstoy John knew I had read. He didn't know that I had read the other books by Tolstoy which I had read.
2) John didn't know that I had read three of Tolstoy's books.
Is this sentence ambiguous?
One meaning: I had read three of Tolstoy's books and John didn't know that.
Second meaning: There were three books by Tolstoy John didn't know I had read. He knew that I had read the other books by Tolstoy which I had read.
Gratefully,
Navi
Top answer
Both sentences are only marginally ambiguous because a native speaker would expect the existential- there construction for the second possible meaning, as you have written them. There were three of Tolstoy's books that John [knew / didn't know] I had read. CJ
- Both sentences are only marginally ambiguous because a native speaker would expect the existential- there construction for the second possible meaning, as you have written them.
- There were three of Tolstoy's books that John [knew / didn't know] I had read.
- CJ
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Both sentences are only marginally ambiguous because a native speaker would expect the existential-there construction for the second possible meaning, as you have written them.
There were three of Tolstoy's books that John [knew / didn't know] I had read.
CJ
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