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Rommel Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

‘To be stabbed’ or ‘being stabbed’?

Which expression should I use?

How would you feel (to be stabbed, being stabbed) in the back?
  

Top answer

being stabbed

— Wilpeter

  • being stabbed
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9 Answers
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RommelWhich expression should I use? How would you feel (to be stabbed, being stabbed) in the back?
How would you feel about being stabbed in the back?
How would you feel if you were stabbed in the back?
How would it feel to be stabbed in the back?

Any of the above.

CJ
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I'd more naturally say How would you feel if you were stabbed in the back?
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I take it I'm the only one treating it in the sense of betrayed?
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wilpeterI take it I'm the only one treating it in the sense of betrayed?
Not necessarily. I think all the sentences suggested in the thread so far can be taken literally or metaphorically.

CJ
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How would a person literally stabbed in the back be able to answer such a question, except in the after life. Emotion: sad
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wilpeterHow would a person literally stabbed in the back be able to answer such a question, except in the after life.
I think the word "would" suggests that the listener is supposed to speculate when he answers.

Besides, some victims of back-stabbing do recover!
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CalifJimBesides, some victims of back-stabbing do recover!
This report suggests that of some 38,000 crime-related piercing injuries in Britain in 2007/8. only 270 were fatal. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find figures on non-fatal
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If I were asking for speculation on how it felt, I would likely ask how it felt to be stabbed--rather than modifying it to 'in the back'. Just saying.
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