0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Sentence question

Is there any difference between these forms or are they basically the same?

Make sure you don't eat when 'you are running'.
Make sure you don't eat when 'you run'.

Stop talking when 'you eat'.
Stop talking when 'you are eating'.

They seem the same to me, but I am not sure.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Stop talking when 'you are eating'. Said to someone who is eating and trying to talk at the same time. Occasionally also used as general advice.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous Stop talking when 'you are eating'.
  • Said to someone who is eating and trying to talk at the same time.
  • Occasionally also used as general advice.
  • See below.
  • Anonymous Make sure you don't eat when 'you are running'.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

17 Answers
0
AnonymousStop talking when 'you are eating'.
Said to someone who is eating and trying to talk at the same time. Occasionally also used as general advice. See below.
AnonymousMake sure you don't eat when 'you are running'.
Said to someone who is about to start a race. Occasionally also used as general advice. See below.
0
0
CalifJimaid to someone who is eating and trying to talk at the same time. Occasionally also used as general advice. See below.
Thanks CJ.That was very helpful.

Is that always the case in which the 'ing' form is used when the event is happing and only occasionally as general advice, or does it depend on the context?

For example, 'make sure you
0
0
AnonymousIs that always the case
Nothing in English is always the case.
Anonymousdoes it depend on the context?
Everything depends on context.
Anonymoussounds like a general advice. like general advice.
Anonymousmake s
0
0
CalifJimAnonymousmake sure you stop eating prior to runningAfter the compound preposition 'prior to' (or any other preposition) the only verb form permitted is the -ing form. You can use this sentence in a specific situation or as general advice. It doesn't matter.
Thanks a lot CJ. It's great to know that everything depends on (the) context. Is the optional or
0
0
Anonymousdoes it matter if I use 'don't talk' or 'stop talking' ... (Don't talk when you eat; Stop talking when you eat)
It's different words, so why do you think it doesn't matter? You know what "stop" means, don't you?

CJ
0
0
CalifJim Anonymousdoes it matter if I use 'don't talk' or 'stop talking' ... (Don't talk when you eat; Stop talking when you eat)It's different words, so why do you think it doesn't matter? You know what "stop" means, don't you?CJ
Hmm. I know there is a difference between 'stop' and 'don't', but isn't the general meaning of the sentence the same?

And
0
0
CalifJim (Don't talk when you eat; Stop talking when you eat)
Hi CJ, so are they both used as general advice, where 'don't talk' and 'stop talking' do not affect the fact of being general advice? In order words general advice sentences can have words with -ing and without, right?

Thanks.
0
0
CalifJim(Don't talk when you eat; Stop talking when you eat)
Hi CJ, so are they both used as general advice, where 'don't talk' and 'stop talking' do not affect the fact of being general advice? In order words general advice sentences can have words with -ing and without, right?

Thanks.
0
0
Anonymousso are they both used as general advice, where 'don't talk' and 'stop talking' do not affect the fact of being general advice?
It's not "They are both used as general advice". It's "They can both be used as general advice". Yes.
Anonymousgeneral advice sentences can have words with -ing and without, right?
0
0
AnonymousHi CJ, so are they both used as general advice, where 'don't talk' and 'stop talking' do not affect the fact of being general advice? In order words general advice sentences can have words with -ing and without, right?Thanks.
This is an exact duplicate of your previous post. I should let you know that you should be careful about this. People who hav
0

Related Questions