5Likes -
3 Post By Raymott -
2 Post By 5jj
-
Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.
Which does "patiently" describe? "Linda" or "Martin"? I think it's ambiguous. In "Linda waited for Martin to patiently finish", "patiently" definitely describes "Martin", though.
gr67)Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.
-
Re: Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.

Originally Posted by
keannu
Which does "patiently" describe? "Linda" or "Martin"? I think it's ambiguous. In "Linda waited for Martin to patiently finish", "patiently" definitely describes "Martin", though.
gr67)Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.
If you write that sentence, you are asking for it to be interpreted as Martin being patient, because there is a far easier way to indicate that it's Linda who is patient ("Linda waited patiently for ...")
-
Re: Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.
My grammar book says in "Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently." , " "Linda is patient", which is wrong according to your explanation. So doesn't it have any possibility to be intereted as describing "Martin"?
-
Re: Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.

Originally Posted by
keannu
My grammar book says in "Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently." , " "Linda is patient", which is wrong according to your explanation. So doesn't it have any possibility to be interpreted as describing "Martin"?
Yes it does have that possibility, especially in speech, where the speaker can indicate maning by stress, intonation and pauses. However, as Raymott has already, it's far more likely to be taken to mean that Martin is patient.
Why make life complicated?
Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.
Similar Threads
-
By keannu in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 7
Last Post: 30-Jul-2012, 21:58
-
By keannu in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 1
Last Post: 04-Jan-2012, 09:14
-
By bhavanap in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 1
Last Post: 04-Jan-2010, 19:29
-
By Unregistered in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 3
Last Post: 14-Nov-2007, 01:11
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules

Search Engine Optimization by
vBSEO 3.6.1