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Lexical ambiguity or syntactically ambiguous?

 
 
Reply Sat 24 Jul, 2004 12:19 pm
a) John went to the bank.

b) Put the box on the table in the kitchen.

Each appears to make a plain statement. May I ask, which is which and why?
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Type: Discussion • Score: 2 • Views: 1,363 • Replies: 3
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Craven de Kere
 
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Reply Sat 24 Jul, 2004 02:39 pm
B has no subject to the imperative verb.
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Letty
 
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Reply Sat 24 Jul, 2004 02:44 pm
Craven is correct, tryagain. The understood subject is always "you" in that type structure; however, I would say "Put the box on the table that is in the kitchen." That would clarify the modifiers a wee bit.
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Tryagain
 
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Reply Sun 25 Jul, 2004 04:58 am
Thank you for the points you make. Very Happy

Can I then assume b) is syntactically ambiguous as (the syntax, or grammar, can be understood in more than one way)

"The box already on the table, and to be put in the kitchen? Alternatively, is the box to be put on the table, which is in the kitchen?"

However, in sentence a) is ?'bank' not equally ambiguous as it could mean blood, sand, river etc.
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