[Grammar] Ambiguous Sentences

[firefighter86]

Can anyone help me with these ambiguous sentences...I don't understand what's wrong with them or how words need to be added to make them clear.

1. Wollstonecraft blamed women's problems on the structure of society more than the men of her time.

2. Her ideas about women frightened other people less than her husband.

3. One of her daughters, May Shelley, who wrote Frankenstein, became as famous as Wollstonecraft herself.

4. The readers Mary Shelley attracted were different from those who enjoyed her mother's work.

5. Modern readers know Mary Shelley better than Mary Wollstonecraft.

 

[RonBee]

Can anyone help me with these ambiguous sentences...I don't understand what's wrong with them or how words need to be added to make them clear.

1. Wollstonecraft blamed women's problems on the structure of society more than the men of her time did.

2. Her ideas about women frightened other people less than they frightened her husband.

3. One of her daughters, Mary Shelley, who wrote Frankenstein, became as famous as Wollstonecraft herself.

4. The readers Mary Shelley attracted were different from those who enjoyed her mother's work.

5. Modern readers know Mary Shelley better than they know Mary Wollstonecraft.

I have cleared up the ambiguity in sentences one and two. The others are not ambiguous. (Number five is awkward without the changes.)

 

[firefighter86]

Thank you for your help, I think I get it...I have a few questions...

 

[RonBee]

You have questions. We have answers.

;-)

 

[Idun]

I believe RonBee´s filling in gives the correct understanding of the sentences, but I would like to make clear how three of them could be (mis)understood if you don´t add words to make them clear:

1. Wollstonecraft blamed women's problems on the structure of society more than on the men of her time.

2. Her ideas about women frightened other people less than her husband did.

5. Modern readers know Mary Shelley better than Mary Wollstonecraft does.

Idun - the norse goddess of love and knowledge

 

[firefighter86]

Re: Grammatical or Logical Completeness

I need to add any words to the following sentences, I don't quite understand it using the Writers Reference book....

1. Preferring examples from dressmaking to other occupations, she chose stories that illustrated her points and let the acecdotes speak for themselves.

2. She did not argue and never had by directly attacking those who disagreed with her.

3. Her technique was as convincing, or more convincing than, outright argument.

4. No doubt part of Mary Wollstonecraft's unusually effective writing came from the fact that she not only believed in but also lived by the ideas she wrote about.

What words do I add to the sentences to make them complete/grammatical and logical?

 

[firefighter86]

Idun, thank you for your help...I'm so stuck on this stuff...

 

[firefighter86]

It's only words your suppose to add, no punctuation changes...

 

[firefighter86]

Thank you, that's what I thought it would be...any luck on the other ones?

 

[firefighter86]

I understand the bottom sentences, but the first one still confuses me...you don't need to add a WORD?

 

[RonBee]

Thanks to Idun, I have changed my interpretation of the first sentence.

1. Wollstonecraft blamed women's problems on the structure of society more than on the men of her time.

There are two possible interpretations, depending on context. I now believe that one is most likely.

 

[RonBee]

2. Her ideas about women frightened other people less than her husband did.

5. Modern readers know Mary Shelley better than Mary Wollstonecraft does.

I don't believe her husband frightened other people (although I could be wrong).

I believe Mary Wollstoncraft is deceased.

 

[RonBee]

Re: Grammatical or Logical Completeness

I need to add [STRIKE]any[/STRIKE] words to the following sentences, I don't quite understand them using the Writers Reference book....

1. Preferring examples from dressmaking to examples from other occupations, she chose stories that illustrated her points and let the acecdotes speak for themselves.

2. She did not argue and never had argued by directly attacking those who disagreed with her.

3. Her technique was as convincing as, or more convincing than, outright argument.

4. No doubt part of Mary Wollstonecraft's unusually effective writing came from the fact that she not only believed in but also lived by the ideas she wrote about.

The last sentence needs no changes.




(If you have any more questions, please start another thread.)

 

[firefighter86]

Thanks for the help...how do you know which words to use? Is there a format to go by?

 

[RonBee]

Thanks for the help...how do you know which words to use? Is there a format to go by?

Interesting question. (Maybe somebody can tell me how I know which words to use.)