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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Is there any substantial difference between them?
Hi teachers,
Is there any substantial difference between them? Are both of them correct?
a) Who was behind the postman? Three kids.
b) Who was there behind the postman? Three kids.
Thanks in advance.
Is there any substantial difference between them? Are both of them correct?
a) Who was behind the postman? Three kids.
b) Who was there behind the postman? Three kids.
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Use a. There's no semantic difference but I think it reads better.
- Use a.
- There's no semantic difference but I think it reads better.
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3 Answers
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Use a. There's no semantic difference but I think it reads better.
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Both are grammatical, and a) might be considered "more grammatical" than b). But in everyday speech b) might tend to be heard more. The reason is that if you're going to go to the trouble to ask a question like this, then a) is too mundane-sounding and not emphatic enough - this almost resembles textbook-type English, correct but dull. With its extra word, b) is more emphatic and expressive. A
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