He hugged her and told her he loved her with a smile.

[rohanasm]

How would you understand the following: „He hugged her and told her he loved her with a smile.”
Who smiled? He who said those words or did he like her when she smiled?

 

[jutfrank]

He smiled as he told her.

 

[GoesStation]

I'd understand it as jutfrank would, but I might stop reading the text at that point. I have a low tolerance for careless prose.

 

[TheParser]

„He hugged her and told her he loved her with a smile.”

NOT A TEACHER

In my opinion, the writer probably misplaced the prepositional phrase.

I assume that the writer meant something like: "He hugged her and said with a smile that he loved her."

 

[jazzz8]

The way I understand it is that he was smiling while telling her that he loved her.

 

[J&K Tutoring]

'I'll hold this chisel. When I nod my head, you hit it with a hammer...'

 

[emsr2d2]

'I'll hold this chisel. When I nod my head, you hit it with a hammer...'

Remind me never to get you to help me with any DIY! ;-)

 

[jutfrank]

'I'll hold this chisel. When I nod my head, you hit it with a hammer...'

Do it yourself.