题目

看下面的句子,说说这是英语的什么语法现象?
My friend said he knew a man with a wooden leg named Smith.
So I asked him,"What was the name of his other leg?"
问题：
"a man with a wooden leg named Smith":1.一个名叫Smith的人有一条木腿（a man named Smith 一个人名叫Smith）2.一个人有一条名叫Smith 的木腿（a wooden leg named Smith 一条木腿名叫Smith）.你能解释一下这种幽默效果是源自英语的什么语法现象吗?

提问时间：2020-07-22

答案

这源于当有多个名词在句中时,定语从句的修饰就会产生歧义,这句句子中named Smith既能做man的定语,又可理解为leg的定语,在这种暧昧的表现下就造成了好笑的效果.
可以避免歧义的发生,就是在需要修饰的名词后面即时插入定语从句.
My friend said he knew a man who is named Smith has a wooden leg.
My friend said he knew a man with a wooden leg which is named Smith.
这样就没有歧义了,当然也不会有好笑的效果了.