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Olive file 673 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Had limped vs had been limping

"There were drops of blood on the floor, it looked as if a small wounded creature had limped through the stall."

Could you say "it looked as if a small wounded creature had been limping through the stall" without any difference in meaning?

  

Top answer

olive file 673 Could you say "it looked as if a small wounded creature had been limping through the stall" without any difference in meaning? Virtually no difference, yes. There is a subtle difference in feel.

  • olive file 673 Could you say "it looked as if a small wounded creature had been limping through the stall" without any difference in meaning?
  • Virtually no difference, yes.
  • There is a subtle difference in feel.
  • " This is a comma splice -- an incorrect sentence structure.
  • You cannot join independent clauses using only a comma.
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2 Answers
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olive file 673Could you say "it looked as if a small wounded creature had been limping through the stall" without any difference in meaning?

Virtually no difference, yes. There is a subtle difference in feel.

olive file 673"There were drops of blood on the floor, it looked as if a small wounded creature had limped through the sta
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olive file 673had limped through the stall

This suggests to me that the creature had gone through the stall from one end to the other all in one trip.

olive file 673had been limping through the stall

This suggests to me that the creature may have limped around randomly in the course of its trip through the stall or

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