Proposition (in) phrase

[bmo]

1. Presitent Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arraignment in Baghdad.

2. President Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arrangement in the White House.

3. The new Iraqi president, in Baghdad, viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arraignment there.


Question 1: I like the IN phrase to describe the location of arraignment.
2: I like the IN phrase to describe where the viewer was.
3: I like to describe both the viewer and the arraignment took place in the same place.

Should the second sentence be changed to:

President Bush, in the white house, viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arraignment.

Thanks.

BMO

[Tdol]

It's less ambiguous. You could also put it at the beginning.

[bmo]

Thanks tdol,

You are saying the IN phrase is used to modify the nearest event - the arraignment - as in 1 below:

1. President Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arraignment in Baghdad.

Therefore, the following sentence is wrong:

2. President Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arrangement in the White House.

Unless we put "in the White house" near President Bush, as in:

3. In the White house, President Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arraignment.

Correct?

Thanks again.

BMO

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by bmo

Thanks tdol,

You are saying the IN phrase is used to modify the nearest event - the arraignment - as in 1 below:

1. President Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arraignment in Baghdad.

Therefore, the following sentence is wrong:

2. President Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arrangement in the White House.

Unless we put "in the White house" near President Bush, as in:

3. In the White house, President Bush viewed a replay of Saddham Hussein's arraignment.

Correct?

Thanks again.

BMO

Prepositional phrases can be tricky. Absent other context, your first original sentence could be read two ways. The second was less confusing because arraignments don't take place in the White House. When both readings are possible, the sentence should be rephrased.

[bmo]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Prepositional phrases can be tricky. Absent other context, your first original sentence could be read two ways.

Aha, that is what I am afraid of, that it could be that President Bush, while he was in Bagdad, viewed a replay of the arraignment happened somewhere, or that President Bush, in somewhere, viewed a replay of the arraignment happened in Baghdad.

I saw the first one on CCN's ticker tape (how do you call this?) on TV.

Thanks.

BMO

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by bmo

Aha, that is what I am afraid of, that it could be that President Bush, while he was in Bagdad, viewed a replay of the arraignment happened somewhere, or that President Bush, in somewhere, viewed a replay of the arraignment happened in Baghdad.

Thanks.

BMO

Yes, I agree. :wink: