Garden-Path Sentence

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɑrdən pæθ ˈsɛntəns/

Definitions of garden-path sentence

noun A word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality.

Example Sentences

A1 I read a garden-path sentence in my English textbook.

A2 The teacher explained what a garden-path sentence is during class.

B1 The article contained a confusing garden-path sentence that was hard to decipher.

B2 The author intentionally used a garden-path sentence to engage the readers and make them think.

C1 The linguist analyzed the structure of the garden-path sentence in great detail.

C2 The complexity of the garden-path sentence challenged even the most advanced readers.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

Example Sentences

A1 The garden-path sentence confused the beginner English learners.

A2 The teacher used a garden-path sentence to demonstrate the importance of word order.

B1 The article explained how garden-path sentences can be challenging for intermediate language learners.

B2 The linguist analyzed the structure of the garden-path sentence in detail.

C1 The author's use of garden-path sentences added complexity to the narrative.

C2 The professor's lecture on garden-path sentences was both informative and engaging.

Examples of garden-path sentence in a Sentence

formal The linguist explained the concept of a garden-path sentence to the class.

informal I got confused by that garden-path sentence in the article.

slang That sentence totally led me down the garden path.

figurative Her words were like a garden-path sentence, leading me astray before I understood the true meaning.

Grammatical Forms of garden-path sentence

• past tense: garden-pathed
• plural: garden-path sentences
• comparative: more garden-path
• superlative: most garden-path
• present tense: garden-path
• future tense: will garden-path
• perfect tense: have garden-pathed
• continuous tense: is garden-pathing
• singular: garden-path sentence
• positive degree: very garden-path
• infinitive: to garden-path
• gerund: gardening-path
• participle: garden-pathing

Origin and Evolution of garden-path sentence

First Known Use: 1970 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'garden-path sentence' was coined by psychologist Herbert H. Clark in the 1970s to describe sentences that lead the reader down the wrong interpretation path before realizing the correct interpretation.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the field of psycholinguistics, the term 'garden-path sentence' has since become popular in linguistics and writing studies to describe sentences that create confusion or misinterpretation due to their structure.