Participle usage difference..

Question

Hi!! Can someone please let me know the 'difference in meaning' of the following two sentences:

Margaret found how body has unlimited number of antibodies, each specifically targeted at a hostile substance.

Margaret found how body has unlimited number of antibodies, each specifically targeting a hostile substance.

I understand that first one uses past participle and the second one uses present participle, but I am more interested in knowing if there is a difference in 'meaning'. I think the meaning is same, but in that case, I would like to know how we decide when to use present participle Vs Past participle.

Thanks,
Bharosey.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Can someone please let me know the 'difference in meaning' of the following two sentences:

Margaret found how the body has an unlimited number of antibodies, each specifically targeted at a hostile substance.
This version implies tht something outside the antibodies is responsible for the targetting,
eg each specifically targeted (by the body, by the person's immune system, by ***)

Margaret found how the body has an unlimited number of antibodies, each specifically targeting a hostile substance.
This version just says more simply that this is what the antibodies do.

Howver, there's often no real difference intended.

I understand that first one uses past participle and the second one uses present participle, but I am more interested in knowing if there is a difference in 'meaning'. I think the meaning is same, but in that case, I would like to know how we decide when to use present participle Vs Past participle.

Clive

Participle usage difference..

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