Explain the following ambiguities. You can explain some of them by showing different ways how smaller phrases combine into bigger (as in 1), for the rest use plain English.
1. Old men and women are hard to live with.
(a) (Old men) and women are hard to live with. – only men were old
(b) Old (men and women) are hard to live with. – both men and women were old
2. Heated attendant parking
(a) Heated attendant parking [[heated (attendant parking)]]
(b) Heated attendant parking [[(heated attendant) parking]]
3. The governor is a dirty street fighter.
(a) The governor is a dirty street fighter. [[(dirty street) fighter.]]
(b) The governor is a dirty street fighter. [[dirty (street fighter).]]
4. I know a man with a dog who has fleas.
(a) I know a man with a dog who has fleas. [[I know a man with (a dog who has fleas).]]
(b) I know a man with a dog who has fleas. [[I know a man (with a dog) who has fleas.]]
5. Two Sisters Reunited after 18 Years in Checkout Counter
(a) Two Sisters Reunited after 18 Years in Checkout Counter [[(after 18 Years) (in
Checkout Counter).]]
(b) Two Sisters Reunited after 18 Years in Checkout Counter [[(after 18 Years (in
Checkout Counter)).]]
6. Ban On Soliciting Dead in Trotwood
(a) Ban On Soliciting Dead in Trotwood [[Ban On (Soliciting Dead) in Trotwood.]]
(b) Ban On Soliciting Dead in Trotwood [[(Ban On Soliciting) Dead in Trotwood.]]
7. Students hate annoying professors.
(a) [[Students hate professors who are annoying.]]
(b) [[Students hate to annoy professors.]]
8. The horse is ready to ride.
(a) [[The horse is ready to ride (in his trailer to the track).]]
(b) [[The horse is ready (for someone) to ride.]]
9. Bill sold the invisible man’s hat.
(a) Bill sold the invisible man’s hat. [[Bill sold the (invisible man)’s hat.]]
(b) Bill sold the invisible man’s hat. [[Bill sold the invisible (man’s hat).]]
10. I saw her duck.
(a) [[I saw her when she ducked.]]
(b) [[I saw a duck of hers.]]
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11. The chickens are too hot to eat.
(a) [[for someone to eat (them).]]
(b) [[eat (something).]]
12. I said I would see you on Tuesday.
(a) I said I would see you on Tuesday. [[I said (I would see you on Tuesday).]]
(b) I said I would see you on Tuesday. [[I said (I would see you) on Tuesday.]]
13. Happily they left. – just explain in plain English
(a) [[They left and the were happy.]]
(b) [[We were happy they left.]]
14. We deplore the shooting of the hunters.
(a) [[hunters shoot]]
(b) [[hunters are shooted]]
15. Terry loves his wife and so do I.
(a) [[I love his wife.]]
(b) [[I love my wife.]]
16. John loves Martha more than Martin.
(a) [[John loves Martha more than Martin does]]
(b) [[John loves Martha more than he does Martin]]
From newspapers:
• The Duchess handled the launching beautifully, confidently smashing the champagne against the prow. The crowd cheered as she majestically slid down the greasy runway into the sea.
• Great care must be exercised in tying horses to trees, as they are apt to bark.
• We do not tear your clothing with machinery; we do it carefully by hand.
• After Governor Baldridge watched the lion perform, he was taken to Main Street and fed twenty-five pounds of red meat in front of the Fox Theater.
• Dr. Benjamin Porter visited the school yesterday and lectured on “Destructive Pests”. A large number were present.
• (Reuters) Nude dancing took center stage on Wednesday at the U.S. Supreme Court.
• March planned for Next August
• Lingerie Shipment Hijacked–Thief Gives Police the Slip
• L.A. Voters Approve Urban Renewal by Landslide
• Quarter of a Million Chinese Live on Water
• Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case
• Farmer Bill Dies in House
• Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
• Stud Tires Out
• Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
• Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
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• Soviet Virgin Lands Short of Goal Again
• Eye Drops off Shelf
• Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
• Reagan Wins on Budget, But More Lies Ahead
• Enraged Cow Injures Farmer with Ax
• Miners Refuse to Work after Death
• Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
• Two Soviet Ships Collide, One Dies
• Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in 10 Years
• Red Tape Holds up New Bridge
• Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
• Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge
• Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
• Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
• Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy
• Lansing Residents Can Drop Off Trees
• Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
• Old School Pillars are Replaced by Alumni
• Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
• Include your Children when Baking Cookies
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