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Minhuoc Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
breath/breathing.
Hi,
Can I use "breath" as a noun here or must it be used "breathing" - a gerund? Thanks.
1.Police found a strange man lying still on the street without breath.
2.Police found a strange man lying still on the street without breathing.
Thanks
Can I use "breath" as a noun here or must it be used "breathing" - a gerund? Thanks.
1.Police found a strange man lying still on the street without breath.
2.Police found a strange man lying still on the street without breathing.
Thanks
Top answer
They might be both correct, but I think the 2nd is more recommended, as it indicates an activity. No activity - he's dead
- They might be both correct, but I think the 2nd is more recommended, as it indicates an activity.
- No activity - he's dead
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4 Answers
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They might be both correct, but I think the 2nd is more recommended, as it indicates an activity. No activity - he's dead
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The first won't work at all.
The second is anomalous in that it could suggest that the police were able to locate the man even though they (the police) were not breathing at the time.
Do you mean a strange (weird, odd, peculiar) man? Or do you mean that the man was a stranger -- an unknown man?
Police found a strange man lying on the street. He was not breathing.
The second is anomalous in that it could suggest that the police were able to locate the man even though they (the police) were not breathing at the time.
Do you mean a strange (weird, odd, peculiar) man? Or do you mean that the man was a stranger -- an unknown man?
Police found a strange man lying on the street. He was not breathing.
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Thank Calif,
Your explanation surprised me but it is very interesting. I like it a lot.
Thanks again.
Your explanation surprised me but it is very interesting. I like it a lot.
Thanks again.
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