Structural Ambiguity Exercise
LING 222 Spring 2013
Hedberg
I. Explain the two different meanings associated with each of the
following three sentences.
II. Draw tree structures that explain the ambiguity structurally and
identify each with its meaning.
1. Sam wears a bright yellow shirt.
2. Mary works out in the background.
3. Jack decided on the boat.
The shirt has a bright yellow color.
The shirt is bright and the shirt is yellow.
Mary exercises in the background.
Mary works while she is out in the backyard.
Jack decided to choose the boat.
Jack made a decision while he was on the boat.