[Grammar] On _ Grounds

[Fondness]

"Some prisoners were release on humanitarian grounds."
"The secret was discussed on humanitarian grounds."

Given the usage of the pattern "on *** grounds" in the first sentence, does the second sentence mean that humanitarian compassion compelled the act of discussing the secret? Or is it that the humanitarian aspects of the secret was discussed?

 

[emsr2d2]

It's ambiguous.

 

[Fondness]

Thank you, emsr2d2!

Could the first sentence be as ambiguous as the second?

 

[emsr2d2]

In my opinion, no. I cannot see any meaning other than that humanitarian grounds were the reason for them being released.

 

[Fondness]

Thank you, emsr2d2!

Would these be less ambiguous?

"The secret was discussed on the basis of humanitarian grounds."
"The secret was discussed based on humanitarian grounds."

 

[charliedeut]

"Some prisoners were release on humanitarian grounds."
"The secret was discussed on humanitarian grounds."

Given the usage of the pattern "on *** grounds" in the first sentence, does the second sentence mean that humanitarian compassion compelled the act of discussing the secret? Or is it that the humanitarian aspects of the secret was discussed?

How many times and under how many different names are you going to ask the same question? This is your 5th attempt so far, isn't it already enough?

 

[emsr2d2]

How have I managed to miss every other version?!

 

[charliedeut]

How have I managed to miss every other version?!

However illogical it may sound, it seems that trolls are rather good in the art of disguise ;-)

 

[Rover_KE]

How have I managed to miss every other version?!

Some are on the BBC forum, ems.