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Pb03 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

sit doing sth & sit and do sth ...

Hi everyone~!

I'm wondering whether there is any difference between the two phrases -- sit doing sth & sit and do sth -- technically.

I mean, in the terms of timing, meaning, usage or anything.

Can I understand that the meaning of those examples are same?

Thanks for your help in advance!

pb

ex)

1) He sat staring into space for a while.

2) He sat and stared into space for a while.

or

a) They sat chatting about work.

b) They sat and chatted about work.
  

Top answer

Close, but not identical. sat staring: more simultaneity between the two actions sat and stared: more independence/decoupling between the two actions

  • Close, but not identical.
  • sat staring: more simultaneity between the two actions sat and stared: more independence/decoupling between the two actions
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1 Answers
0
Close, but not identical.

sat staring: more simultaneity between the two actions
sat and stared: more independence/decoupling between the two actions

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