Can you produce two tree diagrams from one sentence? If so how does that work

[Bmack]

If a sentence is ambiguous I know you can basically paraphrase and get two meanings for example the sentence

Visiting friends can be boring.

This can mean that visiting a friend can be boring or friends that visit (you) can be boring.


However if I wanted to do 2 tree's without using the paraphrase how can I do that? I mean is it possible?

[Mohammed Abu Risha]

Visiting friends can be boring.

I-Friends who visit [others] can be boring

Visiting friends can be boring.
Visiting friends = Subject
Can be= Verb Phrase
Boring= Complement

Visiting friends = Noun Phrase
Friends= Head noun,,,,,,, visiting = pre-modifier

II-For one to visit friends can be boring. (i.e. visiting itself is boring)

Visiting friends = Subject
Visiting friends = Noun clause
Visiting = Verb (Subject deleted)
Friends = Object

Can be = Verb phrase
Boring = Complement

[Bmack]

Originally Posted by Mohammed Abu Risha

Visiting friends can be boring.

I-Friends who visit [others] can be boring

Visiting friends can be boring.
Visiting friends = Subject
Can be= Verb Phrase
Boring= Complement

Visiting friends = Noun Phrase
Friends= Head noun,,,,,,, visiting = pre-modifier

II-For one to visit friends can be boring. (i.e. visiting itself is boring)

Visiting friends = Subject
Visiting friends = Noun clause
Visiting = Verb (Subject deleted)
Friends = Object

Can be = Verb phrase
Boring = Complement

Thank you I have another question. I seems that in one of the tree diagrams I would be starting out with a Adj because one meanining is describing the friends. Is this possible. I hope I am clear...

ETA: It does not appear to possible.

[Mohammed Abu Risha]

Yes your question is clear.

In fact some people would start with the adjective. As for me, I follow the pattern through which I divide the sentence into Subject, Verb, Object, etc. then I move down to the detials of every constituent.

[Bmack]

Originally Posted by Mohammed Abu Risha

Yes your question is clear.

In fact some people would start with the adjective. As for me, I follow the pattern through which I divide the sentence into Subject, Verb, Object, etc. then I move down to the detials of every constituent.

I did do one where is starts with an adj. However in another sentence, I am assuming a verb would start off the sentence. The problem with that is that VPs seem to only occur on the right not left.

I have for the one I did not construct.
V N Aux Aux V( not too sure with this though)
Visiting friends can be boring