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Mr. Tom Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

I make no pretensions to being an expert on this subject.

Hi

Please tell me if these sentences are equally natural.

I make no pretensions to being an expert on this subject.

I make no pretensions to be an expert on this subject.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Mr. Tom I make no pretensions to being an expert on this subject. I make no pretensions to be an expert on this subject.

— CalifJim

  • Mr.
  • Tom I make no pretensions to being an expert on this subject.
  • I make no pretensions to be an expert on this subject.
  • The first seems slightly more natural to my ear, though you will see both versions quite frequently.
  • Personally, I sense something more like a present-tense meaning in "pretensions to being" and something more like a future-tense meaning in "pretensions to be", tending toward "pretensions to become".
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3 Answers
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Mr. TomI make no pretensions to being an expert on this subject.
I make no pretensions to be an expert on this subject.
The first seems slightly more natural to my ear, though you will see both versions quite frequently. Personally, I sense something more like a present-tense meaning in "pretensions to being" and something more like a future-tense meaning
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Both sentences are grammatically correct but they do convey different meanings.

"I make no pretensions to being an expert on this subject." Here, the speaker is not making any claim of being an expert on the subject. That is, he doesn’t claim that he is an expert on the subject, as of now.

Whereas in:"I make no pretensions to be an expert on th
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Mr. TomI make no pretensions to being an expert on this subject.
I make no pretensions to be an expert on this subject.
Hi,

There is something about the sound of the first one that makes my ears twitch .
The latter sentence with " to be " seems ok, but I personally would rather say " I make no pretension of being an expert ....".
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