Ambiguity

Double







If two different nouns including proper nouns or pronouns or a mixture of them are placed before an infinitive (i.e. to plus a verb to signify a certain action) in a sentence, there is always the likelihood of uncertainty concerning who the actual doer of the action is. This can be seen from the following sentence taken from a national English daily in its overview section.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy held off the challenge of world number one Tiger Woods to lead by a shot after the second round of the WGC-CA Championships on Friday. Uncertainty has arisen as to who actually led by a shot: Australian Geoff Ogilvy or Tiger Woods?

Such ambiguity can be eradicated to arrive at the actual meaning in the news by amending the sentence as follows:-

Australian Geoff Ogilvy held off the challenge of world number one Tiger Woods and led by a shot after the second round of the WGC-CA Championships on Friday.