"Clarifying a Meaning: Selecting the Correct Sentence"

Understanding the Sentence

The sentence "He didn’t want to paint the wall with a sprained ankle" can be interpreted in different ways. Let's explore the possible meanings and select the most appropriate clarification.

Possible Interpretations

O He didn’t want to do it, even though he had a sprained ankle, and the wall had to be painted.

O He didn’t want to get a sprained ankle, but then he decided to paint the wall.

He didn’t want to paint the wall, and then he sprained his ankle, but he did it anyway.

O He had a sprained ankle, and he didn’t want to paint the wall.

Answer:

The correct sentence that clarifies the meaning is: "He had a sprained ankle, and he didn’t want to paint the wall."

Explanation:

The other options are focused on the ankle rather than the wall, which may lead to confusion. By selecting the sentence where the main concern is the sprained ankle and the action of painting the wall is linked to it, we can clarify the intended meaning.