The players in our team come from around London.

[navi tasan]

1) The players in our team come from around London.

Does that mean that they all come from places near London and none of them comes from London, or that some come from London and some come from places close to it?

 

[Rover_KE]

I couldn't say without more context.

(If that's #1, what's #2?)

 

[White Hat]

While I agree with Rover_KE with regard to context, I'd venture to suggest that 'from around' here means 'from all over'. Check this example out: "Sunday services bring together adults and children from all over London and, often, from across the world.".

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, it means that they all come from different parts of London.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you all very much,

In White Hats example we have 'all over'. I think that unambiguously means 'from all parts'. In my example we have 'come from around'.

Now I am thinking that that has three possible meanings
a) from the vicinity of London
b) from London and its vicinity
c) from all over London (as White Hat says)

What do you think?

Gratefully,
Navi

 

[Tarheel]

It means "b" most likely.

 

[jutfrank]

What do you think?

I honestly think you should focus on what it does mean, not on what it could mean.

Where did you see this sentence? Can you give us the source and more context?

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you all very much,

That is a very unremarkable sentence, isn't it? I used it, meaning (a), and then stated wondering if it really meant what I wanted it to mean.

Gratefully,
Navi