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Chiakingdom Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Are both sentences correct?

I heard the news that Mary had shoplifted.
I heard the news that Mary shoplifted.
  

Top answer

The second one sounds as if you heard that she does it regularly, while the first could refer to one occasion. Personally, I find the verb "shoplift" just slightly unsatisfactory. It feels as if it has been made up from the noun "shoplifting".

— GPY

  • The second one sounds as if you heard that she does it regularly, while the first could refer to one occasion.
  • Personally, I find the verb "shoplift" just slightly unsatisfactory.
  • It feels as if it has been made up from the noun "shoplifting".
  • However, it is in dictionaries, and I guess it is widely accepted.
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2 Answers
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The second one sounds as if you heard that she does it regularly, while the first could refer to one occasion.

Personally, I find the verb "shoplift" just slightly unsatisfactory. It feels as if it has been made up from the noun "shoplifting". However, it is in dictionaries, and I guess it is widely accepted.
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