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RCY Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
What's the ambiguity of this sentence?
She seems very loyal to the students.
I cannot figure it out. Thanks.
I cannot figure it out. Thanks.
Top answer
There are two possible interpretations of this sentence. It might be that she is loyal to the students in that they can count on her to be on their side, and she will never go against them. The other interpretation is that the students think she is a loyal person generally, not specifically to them.
- There are two possible interpretations of this sentence.
- It might be that she is loyal to the students in that they can count on her to be on their side, and she will never go against them.
- The other interpretation is that the students think she is a loyal person generally, not specifically to them.
- That is the kind of person she is - a loyal person.
- That's how they see her.
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3 Answers
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There are two possible interpretations of this sentence. It might be that she is loyal to the students in that they can count on her to be on their side, and she will never go against them.
The other interpretation is that the students think she is a loyal person generally, not specifically to them. That is the kind of person she is - a loyal person. That's how they see her.
The other interpretation is that the students think she is a loyal person generally, not specifically to them. That is the kind of person she is - a loyal person. That's how they see her.
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The ambiguity is in the words "seems," "very," and "loyal." Someone is either loyal or not. There is no middle ground with the word. And there are no gradations of loyalty, as in: a little loyal, or very loyal. The word "seems" is very indefinite, which doesn't fit with the word "loyal." And the word "very" puts a gradation on the word "loyal," which also does not fit it.
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1. [She seems very loyal ] [ to the students.] = To the students, she seems very loyal.
In the opinion of the students, she is a very loyal person.
2. [She seems] [ very loyal to the students.]
In the opinion of the writer, the relationship between her and her students seems to be one of extreme loyalty.
And yes, "loyal" is gradable. You can be a little bit loyal to y
In the opinion of the students, she is a very loyal person.
2. [She seems] [ very loyal to the students.]
In the opinion of the writer, the relationship between her and her students seems to be one of extreme loyalty.
And yes, "loyal" is gradable. You can be a little bit loyal to y
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