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When 'curious' is used as an adjective (e.g., in the construction "A is a curious B"), there is ambiguity as to whether the noun it modifies is:-

  • The subject: A feels curious (e.g., "Humans are a curious species" meaning humans want to know about everything)
  • An object: A is an object of curiosity (e.g., "Dung beetles are a curious species" meaning dung beetles are interesting to us)

How can we resolve this ambiguity? Is there an official way to do it? Both are correct 'de facto' as both versions of usage are common.

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You resolve the ambiguity by understanding the semantics. It is not a matter of syntax.

Curious modifies species in both cases. It just means something quite different in the one case compared with what it means in the other.

It never applies to the subject. And that is not an object, since be is not transitive.

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  • Thanks. 1) How come there isn't a specific way to address the 2 different meanings? 2) What does 'that' refer to in in your last point?
    – Yatharth Agarwal
    Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 17:58
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    @YatharthROCK Because everyone can tell whether you mean inquisitive or interesting. And that refers to species, which is not an object because be is not transitive.
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 18:52

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