at the grocery store

[navi tasan]

1) Tom, at the grocery store, told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.

Is that sentence ambiguous?

First possible meaning:
a) At the grocery store, Tom told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.
Second possible meaning:
b) Tom, who works at the grocery store, told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.

I think if we take the commas off, then the sentence would mean:
c) Tom, the one who works at the grocery store and not the other Tom, told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.

Is that correct?

Gratefully,
Navi

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

1) Tom, at the grocery store, told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.

Is that sentence ambiguous?

First possible meaning:
a) At the grocery store, Tom told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.

Technically, that might be right, but it's not natural. Better: At the grocery store, Tom told Jane that . . . .

Second possible meaning:

b) Tom, who works at the grocery store, told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.

You're probably right. In conversation, this meaning is more likely.

I think if we take the commas off, then the sentence would mean:

c) Tom, the one who works at the grocery store and not the other Tom, told Jane that he was going to buy a new house.

Almost. More exactly, I'd say another Tom, not the other Tom.

Is that correct?

Gratefully,
Navi

I think so. But I'm not a teacher. Let's see what people who know things say.