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Thread: Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.

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    Default 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.

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    Default Re: Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.

    Quote Originally Posted by keannu View Post
    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 ...")
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    Default 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"?

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    Default Re: Linda waited for Martin to finish patiently.

    Quote Originally Posted by keannu View Post
    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?
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    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.
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