attachment ambiguity

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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azz
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attachment ambiguity

Post by azz »

a. They broke that door of the house that I had painted.
b. They broke the door of the house that I had painted.



In which of the above cases:
1. I had painted the house
and in which
2. I had painted the door


---------------------------------

c. He was petting that puppy of the dog that I had given him.
d. He was petting the puppy of the dog that I had given him.


In which of the above cases:
3. I had given him the puppy
and in which
4. I had given him the dog
?

Many thanks
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Alan
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Re: attachment ambiguity

Post by Alan »

The sentences are all grammatically sound.

Meaning is determined by a combination of context, background knowledge and common sense.

(You appear at times to be confusing ambiguity with grammaticality - two quite different things.)
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