To shake vs shaking

Question

What’s the difference: My arm started to shake violently when I was sleeping.and My arm started shaking violently when I was sleeping.

Moonrise · Accepted Answer

I don't think there is a difference in meaning overall. I always use the form with ing, though. I also think that using "while" instead of "when" sounds better.

It's better to take a certain answer from the teachers.

CalifJim · Answer

anon006
What’s the difference:
My arm started to shake violently when I was sleeping.
and
My arm started shaking violently when I was sleeping.

The meanings are the same, but here are a couple of rough guidelines for you.

1) After start and started, use the -ing form, but after starting, use the form without -ing. That way you won't have two -ings in a row, which doesn't sound very nice.

So started shaking, and was starting to shake are OK.

started to shakeis also OK , but don't usewas starting shaking.

2) Use while to introduce a clause with -ing. Use when to introduce a clause without -ing.

while you were eating / when you ate
while they were talking / when they talked
while she was working at IBM / when she worked at IBM

Note that those are guidelines, not strict rules, so you will find exceptions.

Putting those two tips into effect, we have

My arm started shaking violently while I was sleeping.

CJ

To shake vs shaking

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