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Nathan mckane Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

I fear being cavilled at ...

Hello dear teachers!

Which one do you believe is correct?

It is to be used in a newspaper, so I personaly think the second one is better since there is nobody to remonstrate with the writer at the time of writing.

I fear being criticized for making such comments.
I fear that I will be criticized for making such comments.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi. I am not a teacher. nathan mckane I fear that I will be criticized for making such comments.

  • Hi.
  • I am not a teacher.
  • nathan mckane I fear that I will be criticized for making such comments.
  • I believe the second sentence is grammatically correct.
  • " But I often see the noun pharse 'fear of smth/doing smth', not the structure: Fear(verb) of doing something.
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2 Answers
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Hi. I am not a teacher. Emotion: big smile
nathan mckaneI fear that I will be criticized for making such comments.
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Dear Nathan

I should go with your instincts - the second sentence - because

- As you say, it puts the action forward to the time when you might be criticised

- In newspaper writing, it is better to use strong verb clauses "..I will be criticized.."

- It avoids the -ing..-ing repetition that you have in the first sentence

(You could miss out "that" - I

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