Phaedrus
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2012
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- United States
- Current Location
- United States
Today I was reading through a beginning-level ESL short story with some learners and came upon this sentence:
(1) His customers appreciate Nikos very much.
In context, the intended meaning is that Nikos's customers appreciate him. My question is whether the intended meaning is possible. Consider:
(2) Her fans love Madonna.
(3) His students like Mr. Smith.
Can (2) mean that Madonna's fans love her and (3) that Mr. Smith's students like him? In other words, can the direct-object names supply the antecedents?
Thank you.
(1) His customers appreciate Nikos very much.
In context, the intended meaning is that Nikos's customers appreciate him. My question is whether the intended meaning is possible. Consider:
(2) Her fans love Madonna.
(3) His students like Mr. Smith.
Can (2) mean that Madonna's fans love her and (3) that Mr. Smith's students like him? In other words, can the direct-object names supply the antecedents?
Thank you.