#1  
Old 02-Aug-2003, 12:53
FW
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default as well as, besides, apart from

1-As well as Jane, I gave the instructions to Sally.
2-Besides Jane I gave the instructions to Sally.
3-Apart from Jane, I gave the instructions to Sally.

4-I gave the instructions to Sally as well as Jane.
5-I gave the instructions to Sally besides Jane.
6-I gave the instructions to Sally apart from Jane.

Are the above sentences all correct?
Aren't they all ambiguous?

First meaning: I gave the instructions to Jane and also to Sally.
Second meaning: Jane gave the instructions to Sally and so did I. (Sally was given the instructions twice).

I think one can take out the ambiguity by saying:
7-As well as to Jane, I gave the instructions to Sally.
But I don't think one can do the same with "besides" or "apart from" (besides to Jane, apart from to Jane)
  #2  
Old 02-Aug-2003, 21:54
RonBee's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,539
Home Country: United States
Native Language: American English
Current Location: United States
Member Type: Other
Default Re: as well as, besides, apart from

Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
1-As well as Jane, I gave the instructions to Sally.
2-Besides Jane I gave the instructions to Sally.
3-Apart from Jane, I gave the instructions to Sally.

4-I gave the instructions to Sally as well as Jane.
5-I gave the instructions to Sally besides Jane.
6-I gave the instructions to Sally apart from Jane.

Are the above sentences all correct?
Aren't they all ambiguous?

First meaning: I gave the instructions to Jane and also to Sally.
Second meaning: Jane gave the instructions to Sally and so did I. (Sally was given the instructions twice).

I think one can take out the ambiguity by saying:
7-As well as to Jane, I gave the instructions to Sally.
But I don't think one can do the same with "besides" or "apart from" (besides to Jane, apart from to Jane)
Sentences one and four are clear and unambiguous. The others are fuzzy. If you want to say you and Sally both gave the instructions to Jane, you could say, "Both Sally and I gave the instructions to Jane."
  #3  
Old 04-Aug-2003, 14:57
FW
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Thanks for your replies.
You say that 1 and 4 are unambiguous. But do they mean that Jane also received the instructions from me or that I gave them also to Jane.
Is sentence 7 correct at all?
  #4  
Old 04-Aug-2003, 15:28
RonBee's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,539
Home Country: United States
Native Language: American English
Current Location: United States
Member Type: Other
Default

Sentences one and four mean that the instructions were given to both Sally and Jane. (Sentence four is more natural.) Sentence seven, I think, is not correct.

Another way to say that would be: "I gave the instructions to both Sally and Jane."
  #5  
Old 04-Aug-2003, 15:33
FW
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Cheers!
Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Tags
well, besides, apart


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT. The time now is 03:27.



Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.