linguistics1-5  Exercise 2: Structural Ambiguity
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1. I saw the man with the telescope

   Reading A: the telescope is the instrument I used.
     [S [NP I] [VP [V saw] [NP the man] [PP with the telescope]]]
     Paraphrase: Using a telescope, I saw the man.

   Reading B: the man was holding the telescope.
     [S [NP I] [VP [V saw] [NP [NP the man] [PP with the telescope]]]]
     Paraphrase: I saw the man who had the telescope.

   The ambiguity depends on where the PP attaches: to the verb phrase (how I
   saw) or to the noun phrase (which man).

2. old men and women

   Reading A: only the men are old.
     [NP [NP [Adj old] [N men]] and [NP women]]
     Paraphrase: old men, and women (of any age).

   Reading B: both the men and the women are old.
     [NP [Adj old] [NP [N men] and [N women]]]
     Paraphrase: old men and old women.

   The ambiguity depends on whether "old" modifies only "men" or the whole
   coordinated phrase "men and women".

In both sentences the words and their order are identical. Only the grouping
differs, which is why syntax needs trees and not just word lists.