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Wowenglish Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
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The bee flies from flower to flower and plant to plant. From some plants it carries away pollen. On other plants it drops off pollen. In this way the bee carries pollen from one plant to another. The pollen helps new plants to grow. While the bee gets food, it is also starting new plants.
I wonder if there is any difference between "1" and "2"
1. While the bee gets food, it is also starting new plants.
2. While the bee gets food, it also starts new plants.
The bee flies from flower to flower and plant to plant. From some plants it carries away pollen. On other plants it drops off pollen. In this way the bee carries pollen from one plant to another. The pollen helps new plants to grow. While the bee gets food, it is also starting new plants.
I wonder if there is any difference between "1" and "2"
1. While the bee gets food, it is also starting new plants.
2. While the bee gets food, it also starts new plants.
Top answer
I prefer #1. The sense that two things are happening at the same time seems smoother. In #2, I have a momentary mental hiatus as I figure out that the "while" is not a contrasting "while" (as in, for example, "while I like opera, my wife prefers thrash metal").
- I prefer #1.
- The sense that two things are happening at the same time seems smoother.
- In #2, I have a momentary mental hiatus as I figure out that the "while" is not a contrasting "while" (as in, for example, "while I like opera, my wife prefers thrash metal").
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2 Answers
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I prefer #1. The sense that two things are happening at the same time seems smoother.
In #2, I have a momentary mental hiatus as I figure out that the "while" is not a contrasting "while" (as in, for example, "while I like opera, my wife prefers thrash metal").
In #2, I have a momentary mental hiatus as I figure out that the "while" is not a contrasting "while" (as in, for example, "while I like opera, my wife prefers thrash metal").
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1. is more descriptive and emphasises the action as if it were going on at the moment.
2. sounds as if it were from a textbook and gives the impression that the activity is repetitive: Whenever the bee gets food, it starts new plants. This always happens.
CB
2. sounds as if it were from a textbook and gives the impression that the activity is repetitive: Whenever the bee gets food, it starts new plants. This always happens.
CB
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