Testing my understanding of prep-phrases as modifiers

[wazzawayne]

While reviewing the MGMAT SC material, i came across this sentence - "The council granted the rights to make legal petitions to city officials"; this sentence was used as an example of how the placement of words can create ambiguity.. and I understand the 2 different meanings that are conveyed.

But just so that I can relate this ambiguity to the rules that I have learnt, could you please help me to understand what is the role that "TO CITY OFFICIALS" plays in the above sentence?

Is it playing the role of a verb modifier? A Noun modifier?

I feel that the prepositional phrase is playing the role of a verb modifier (modifying GRANTED) or Noun Modifier (modifying Petitions).

[Unlimitedgmat]

While reviewing the MGMAT SC material, i came across this sentence - "The council granted the rights to make legal petitions to city officials"; this sentence was used as an example of how the placement of words can create ambiguity.. and I understand the 2 different meanings that are conveyed.

But just so that I can relate this ambiguity to the rules that I have learnt, could you please help me to understand what is the role that "TO CITY OFFICIALS" plays in the above sentence?

Is it playing the role of a verb modifier? A Noun modifier?

I feel that the prepositional phrase is playing the role of a verb modifier (modifying GRANTED) or Noun Modifier (modifying Petitions).

Hi wazzawayne,

You are correct. The ambiguity is stemming from the fact that the prepositional phrase, "to city officials" could work both as a noun and verb modifier, and so causes ambiguity