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Pinayausie Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Infinitives

Could you tell me the difference among the three sentences?

1. He pretended to be reading a book.
2. He pretened to read a book.
3. He was pretending to read a book.

Are they grammatically correct?
Which one is more native-like?
  

Top answer

1. He pretended to be reading a book. -- This action finished in the past and the speaker is stressing the duration of the pretense.

  • 1.
  • He pretended to be reading a book.
  • -- This action finished in the past and the speaker is stressing the duration of the pretense.
  • 2.
  • He pretended to read a book.
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1 Answers
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1. He pretended to be reading a book.-- This action finished in the past and the speaker is stressing the duration of the pretense.

2. He pretended to read a book.-- This action finished in the past and the speaker is stressing the kind of pretense.
3. He was pretending to read a book.-- This action finished in the past and the speaker is stressing the kind of preten

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