he knew that I had read three of them

[navi tasan]

1) John knew that I had read three of Tolstoy's books.

Is this sentence ambiguous?

One meaning: I had read three of Tolstoy's books and John knew that.

Second meaning: There were three books by Tolstoy John knew I had read. He didn't know that I had read the other books by Tolstoy which I had read.

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2) John didn't know that I had read three of Tolstoy's books.

Is this sentence ambiguous?

One meaning: I had read three of Tolstoy's books and John didn't know that.

Second meaning: There were three books by Tolstoy John didn't know I had read. He knew that I had read the other books by Tolstoy which I had read.

Gratefully,
Navi

 

[Ajb1903]

Not a teacher

John knew that I had read three of Tolstoy's books
• This sentence indicates you have read 3 books. It does not give information about other books which may or may not have been read.

John didn't know that I had read three of Tolstoy's books.
• This sentence is more ambiguous to me. It could mean
1. There a 3 specific(x, y & z) books by Tolstoy that John didn’t know you had read.
2. John didn’t know you had read any 3 books by Tolstoy
3. The sentence does not give information about other books which may or may not have been read.

 

[emsr2d2]

John knew that I had read three of Tolstoy's books
• This sentence indicates John has read 3 books. It does not give information about other books which may or may not have been read.

I can't see any way at all that that sentence could indicate that John has read three books. For all we know, he's never read a book in his life. He simply knows that I've read three.

 

[emsr2d2]

1) John knew that I had read three of Tolstoy's books.

Is this sentence ambiguous?

One meaning: I had read only three of Tolstoy's books and John knew that.
Second Another meaning: There were three books by Tolstoy John knew I had read. He didn't know that I had read the other books by Tolstoy which I had read.

Yes, it could mean both.

2) John didn't know that I had read three of Tolstoy's books.

Is this sentence ambiguous?

One meaning: I had read three of Tolstoy's books and John didn't know that.
Second Another meaning: There were three books by Tolstoy John didn't know I had read. He knew that I had read the other books by Tolstoy which I had read.

Gratefully,
Navi

No. Native speakers would infer just the first of your suggested meanings.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes and yes.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you all very much,
It seems that we have contradictory replies regarding the second sentence.

How do you feel about:

3) John didn't know if I had read three of Tolstoy's books.

Is it possible that he knew that I had read a number of Tolstoy's books, but he didn't know if I had read three specific books by him or not?

Gratefully,
Navi

 

[Tarheel]

3) John didn't know if I had read three of Tolstoy's books.

We don't know if you read the books or not. In fact, we don't know what John doesn't know.

(Context would help in determining the exact meaning of that statement, but I suspect there is none.)

If this was a real life situation I'd want to know why we are talking about what John doesn't know.