Curt Jugg
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2011
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- UK
"why do you think..."/"how do you know...": difference in interpretation
I am having trouble with the analysis of these two sentences:
(1) "Why do you think he stole the money?"
(2) "How do you know he stole the money?"
Superficially they have the same structure, but (1) is ambiguous in a way that (2) doesn't appear to be. (1) can mean either (1a) "Why do you think it was him who stole the money?" or (1b) "Why did he steal the money, do you think?"
If we apply the same reasoning to (2) then it ought to mean either (2a) “How do you know it was him who stole the money” or (2b) “How did he steal the money, do you know?” But it doesn't; (2) is not ambiguous and can only be interpreted as (2a).
Can anyone explain why there is this difference, please?
I am having trouble with the analysis of these two sentences:
(1) "Why do you think he stole the money?"
(2) "How do you know he stole the money?"
Superficially they have the same structure, but (1) is ambiguous in a way that (2) doesn't appear to be. (1) can mean either (1a) "Why do you think it was him who stole the money?" or (1b) "Why did he steal the money, do you think?"
If we apply the same reasoning to (2) then it ought to mean either (2a) “How do you know it was him who stole the money” or (2b) “How did he steal the money, do you know?” But it doesn't; (2) is not ambiguous and can only be interpreted as (2a).
Can anyone explain why there is this difference, please?