women lawyers and judges Versus lawyers and judges of women

[keithyang926]

Hi guys,

I just want to know why 'women' in 'women lawyers and judges' can only modify lawyers while, 'lawyers and judges of women' can mean women lawyers and women judges.

Is there a rule here, like, the adj. can only modify the nearest word, but prep phrase can modify the whole phrase joined by 'and'?

for example,
red hat and shirts --- only hat is known to be red
hat and shirts of red --- means they both are red

correct?

Thanks!

[Willy]

Hi guys,

I just want to know why 'women' in 'women lawyers and judges' can only modify lawyers while, 'lawyers and judges of women' can mean women lawyers and women judges.

Is there a rule here, like, the adj. can only modify the nearest word, but prep phrase can modify the whole phrase joined by 'and'?

for example,
red hat and shirts --- only hat is known to be red
hat and shirts of red --- means they both are red

correct?

Thanks!

Yes, your examples are correct.
In example 1, red (used as adjective) modify only hat and we don't know the color of shirts

in example 2, hat and shirts of red, means both are red.

I think example 2 can also be written as - hats of red and shirts of red. But that would sound awkward. Am I right?

[keithyang926]

Yes, your examples are correct.
In example 1, red (used as adjective) modify only hat and we don't know the color of shirts

in example 2, hat and shirts of red, means both are red.

I think example 2 can also be written as - hats of red and shirts of red. But that would sound awkward. Am I right?

Thanks, Willy!
And I think you are right about the interpretation of those examples, I 'd like to know if I can extend what happened in the examples above to all 'adj.' and 'prep. phrases'.

Experts?

[Willy]

Yes, your examples are correct.
In example 1, red (used as adjective) modify only hat and we don't know the color of shirts

in example 2, hat and shirts of red, means both are red.

I think example 2 can also be written as - hats of red and shirts of red. But that would sound awkward. Am I right?

Thanks, Willy!
And I think you are right about the interpretation of those examples, I 'd like to know if I can extend what happened in the examples above to all 'adj.' and 'prep. phrases'.

Experts?

I don't know whether there is such an rule for prep. phrases but I am almost certain that Adjective can only modify the nearest noun i.e. Adjective must follow the noun it means to modify. Experts please?

[RonPurewal]

Hi guys,

I just want to know why 'women' in 'women lawyers and judges' can only modify lawyers while, 'lawyers and judges of women' can mean women lawyers and women judges.

hmm. where are you getting these phrases?

if you had "judges of women", that would actually be people (of either sex) who judge women.
you won't see this on the real gmat.