0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Differences
Hello, could you please tell me whether there are any differences in meaning between the following two sentences?
He was always careful when he crossed the street.
He was always careful when he was crossing the street.
Thank you
He was always careful when he crossed the street.
He was always careful when he was crossing the street.
Thank you
Top answer
There is no difference in intent. Haven't you already posted other very similar pairs of sentences with the same question, or are your classmates participating in our forums?
- There is no difference in intent.
- Haven't you already posted other very similar pairs of sentences with the same question, or are your classmates participating in our forums?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
There is no difference in intent. Haven't you already posted other very similar pairs of sentences with the same question, or are your classmates participating in our forums?
00
These sentences basically mean the same thing: this man always crossed the street with care. However, I believe there can be a very subtle difference in meaning depending on the context in which the sentence is used, for example, if it's used in a fictional setting. Note that the second sentence is longer by virtue of containing more words, and it is also "longer" in tone and imagery. The se
00
Anonymouswhether there are any differences in meaningNo. The first version sees the street-crossing as a single event in a box viewed from the outside. The second version sees the street-crossing as an event composed of the many movements that add up to the total event and invites the reader inside the box.
CJ
0
Related Questions