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I was asked to translate the following sentence:

> > **弟は友だちの大きいくるまで学校に行きます。**

I first split it up (in my head) so it looks easier to read, whilst
recognising the particles.

> 弟 **は** 友だち **の** 大きい くるま **で** 学校 **に** 行きます。

And then this was easy... until I stumbled across a _slight_ problem; I know
that this must be one of the following sentences when translated, but I don't
know which one.

>   * My younger brother ~~went~~ goes to school in _my_ friend's big car.
>   * My younger brother ~~went~~ goes to school in _his_ friend's big car.
>

How do I tell which sentence is the correct one? (I think it's the first one,
but am not too sure.)
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2018-09-03T03:01:38.187
61293
2018-09-25T14:13:23.213
2018-09-03T03:14:50.860
29594
29594
question
grammar words particles syntax sentence
What does 弟は友だちの大きいくるまで学校に行きます properly translate to?
The topic particle "は" leaves some room for interpretation, but in general,
everything that follows it--and is not specifically indicated otherwise--is in
relation to the "thing" (could be person, place, activity, etc.) indicated by
the "は".

With that in mind, the correct translation is the second one (My younger
brother goes to school in _his_ friend's big car.) because the question of
whose "friend" is it? is answered by the overall topic of the sentence (the
younger brother).

But that's just my two cents.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-03T04:48:26.713
61294
2018-09-03T04:48:26.713
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answer
There is no way to know the sentence is ambiguous, without context it could
mean either way.

But, taken out of context, the first interpretation should be "his friend".  
弟 is the topic of the sentence, so everything in the sentence must be about 弟.  
So the very first assumption is that 友だち refers to a friend of 弟.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-25T14:13:23.213
61751
2018-09-25T14:13:23.213
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answer