What is the difference in meaning between the two?

Question

1. She came sweeping into the room.2. She came into the room sweeping.A. What is the difference in meaning between the two examples above?B. Can I use the two examples interchangeably in the same condition without changing the meaning?C. How to find out which one adverbial and which one adjectival phrase above? Which concept should I use?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Here are two possible but very different interpretations of these two sentences.

1. She came sweeping into the room. She entered the room swiftly and dramatically.

2. She came into the room sweeping. She was brushing and cleaning the floor as she came into the room. Note that this meaning is very unlikely, because meaning #1 is much more common. If we want this #2 meaning, we almost always say it another way. eg She was sweeping the floor when she came into the room.

Can I use the two examples interchangeably in the same condition without changing the meaning? No.

You need to consider the context.

eg If someone is writing about the Queen of England, #2 is an unlikely interpretation.

eg If a rich person is taking about his cleaning staff, #1 is unlikely.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

1. She came sweeping into the room. Sweeping means charing/ rushing into a room abruptly

2. She came into the room sweeping. "Sweeping" here means "cleaning, collecting dust with a broom.

The meaning is entirely different, so not interchangeable.

Here is the lyrics of a song I like a lot, which is called " I need you now" and there is one part using this phrase to describe the emotions.

Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweepin' in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

Nel0506 · Answer

C. Sweeping as an adjective goes before a noun, such as with "sweeping reforms". Otherwise, it is an adverb.

The issue in your sentences is that "came in" is a phrasal verb and "in" is actually an adverb in this case! The prepositions with phrasal verbs act as adverbs.

^^ Came into the room / came in to the room - both are possible.

She came into the room sweeping.

She came sweeping (adv) in (adv) to the room.

Anonymous · Answer

1- She came into the room sweeping. If this is a suggestion that the meaning of # 1 is the same as #2, then please think again. First of all, this is not a semantically sound sentence in my opinion. In earlier reply, Clive had already explained.

2 - She came sweeping (adv) in (adv) to the room. "Sweeping in" together is

2 - She came sweeping (adv) in (adv) to the room. "Sweeping in" together is used as an adverb.

What is the difference in meaning between the two?

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