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Grammar concept: John made a mistake.

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Grammar concept: John made a mistake.

by antest07 » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:51 am
Can anyone explain why the first sentence is ambiguous but the second sentence is clear? Why the phrase "admitted to" make such a difference?
(1) John told William that he had made a mistake.
(2) John admitted to William that he had made a mistake
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Re: Grammar concept: John made a mistake.

by lilu » Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:07 am
antest07 wrote:Can anyone explain why the first sentence is ambiguous but the second sentence is clear? Why the phrase "admitted to" make such a difference?
(1) John told William that he had made a mistake.
(2) John admitted to William that he had made a mistake
You can't tell in the first sentence you had made a mistake: John or William
John could've announced to William that John had made a mistake OR John could've pointed out to William that William had made a mistake.

Admitted in the second sentence clearly identifies John as the one who made a mistake
The more you look, the more you see.
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