Who is receiving the benefit in this sentence?


The narrator is complaining about men on the train making noise and says:

> 車掌さんが彼等に注意をしてくれるのを待ちました。

I'm uncertain of the interpretation of に together with くれる here. I can see two
possibilities:

a) に translates as **to**. She waited for the conductor to give a warning
**to** the men and that would benefit her. (I think this is more likely)

b) に translates as **for**. She waited for the conductor to give a warning
**for** the men and that would benefit the men (because it will improve their
character or it will stop someone going and punching them for example).

Are both my interpretations grammatically valid (with and without the context)
or have I failed to appreciate a grammar point which makes one of them
obviously wrong? Thanks.

**Edit:** Perhaps I should explain further. I'm have little doubt that a) is
the correct answer, but I'm interested to know if b) is a grammatically valid
interpretation. For example:

> 父は **私に** カメラを買ってくれた。
>
> My father bought a camera **for** me.

This sentence has the same structure but the person receving the benefit is
the one marked by に.




I think that if you take this sentence and add a general subject to it, the
meaning becomes clearer, i.e.:

> 私は車掌さんが彼等に注意をしてくれるのを待ちました。

As you can see, it is easier to understand now who will benefit from what
action:

"As for me, I waited for the conductor to give them a warning[an action which
I would benefit from]" Keep in mind that くれる is used when the _direction_ of a
certain action's benefit is from whoever you are talking about towards
yourself(the main subject).




I think that if you take this sentence and add a general subject to it, the
meaning becomes clearer, i.e.:

> 私は車掌さんが彼等に注意をしてくれるのを待ちました。

As you can see, it is easier to understand now who will benefit from what
action:

"As for me, I waited for the conductor to give them a warning[an action which
I would benefit from]" Keep in mind that くれる is used when the _direction_ of a
certain action's benefit is from whoever you are talking about towards
yourself(the main subject).

