Difficult question for me

[panicmonger]

I shot the cat in a cargo container.


Is the prepositional phrase an adjuct modifying the verb 'shot' or Does it function as an adjective modifying the object 'cat' ?

Thank you very much indeed.
Your help is very much appreciated.
Have an agreeable/enjoyable weekend.

[TheParser]

I shot the cat in a cargo container.


Is the prepositional phrase an adjuct modifying the verb 'shot' or Does it function as an adjective modifying the object 'cat' ?

Thank you very much indeed.
Your help is very much appreciated.
Have an agreeable/enjoyable weekend.

NOT A TEACHER


Panicmonger,


(1) Like you, I am eager to see what the teachers say.

(2) I only wish to direct your attention to a similar

sentence in Professor Quirk's highly respected

A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language:

She saw my brother in the garden.

= probably: "My brother was in the garden."

In the garden, she saw my brother.

= probably: "She was in the garden."

THANK YOU & HAVE A NICE DAY

[corum]

I shot the cat in a cargo container.


Is the prepositional phrase an adjuct modifying the verb 'shot' or Does it function as an adjective modifying the object 'cat' ?

Either is feasible.

[lauralie2]

I shot the cat in a cargo container.

That's a fun sentence, and, I agree that it's definitely ambiguous. To me, it carries three possible meanings:

1. The cat was inside the container; I was not.
2. The cat was inside the container and so was I.
3. The cat was outside the container; I was inside.

[panicmonger]

That's a fun sentence, and, I agree that it's definitely ambiguous. To me, it carries three possible meanings:

1. The cat was inside the container; I was not.
2. The cat was inside the container and so was I.
3. The cat was outside the container; I was inside.

After viewing all the possible interpretations, am I right to say that there are 3 ways to resolve this ambiguity:

1. the context will help clear the ambiguity.
2. recasting/restructuring the sentence
3. common sense

Do you have any others way to get around it?
Thank you for sharing.

[lauralie2]

After viewing all the possible interpretations, am I right to say that there are 3 ways to resolve this ambiguity:

1. the context will help clear the ambiguity.
2. recasting/restructuring the sentence
3. common sense

Do you have any others way to get around it?

You have all of them.