In interpreting utterances such as (1) and (2) , the hearer generally treats the events de
In interpreting utterances such as (1) and (2) , the hearer generally treats the events described in the two sentences in each group as causally related even though such relationship is not encoded in the meanings of the sentences. That is, the hearer tends to think that Helen fell on the ground because of Tom s pushing and that the vase broke because it was dropped. Explain why. (1) Tom pushed Helen. Helen fell on the ground. (2) Peter dropped the vase. It broke.