instruction: Is the next sentence syntactically and semantically acceptable?

They spoke to the janitor about that robbery yesterday, the cops.

response: acceptable

instruction: Is the next sentence syntactically and semantically acceptable?

I funneled the bottle with the mixture.

response: unacceptable

instruction: Is the next sentence syntactically and semantically acceptable?

Ellen said to Helen.

response: unacceptable

instruction: Is the next sentence syntactically and semantically acceptable?

It was believed to have disturbed him that people didn't like Fred.

response:
acceptable