Assignment 20: Some Puzzles


1.  The following sentence is ambiguous.  Can you explain that?

(1)   Sue promises to be a good linguist.


2.  The following two sentences are not synonymous.  Can you explain that?

(3)   Sue proved to be a good linguist.

(4)   Sue was proved to be a good linguist.


3.   Explain why (6) is ambiguous, but (5) is not:

(5)   Bob is odd to want to be with the pigs.

(6)   It is crazy to want to be with the pigs.