In Between Bites

[HSS]

Hi, how are you?

[1] I couldn't help looking at her between bites.
[2] I couldn't help looking at her in between bites.

What is the nuance of the two phrases? To me, a non-native speaker, [2] sounds more like "I" took a longer period between the bites.

Hiro/ Sendai, Japan

[competence]

Hi, how are you?

[1] I couldn't help looking at her between bites.
[2] I couldn't help looking at her in between bites.

What is the nuance of the two phrases? To me, a non-native speaker, [2] sounds more like "I" took a longer period between the bites.

Hiro/ Sendai, Japan

Hi Hiro,

You have a very good question!

Example #1 doesn't sound very natural to me. It's ambiguous, it could be interpreted that the subject of the sentence is biting the woman.


Example #2 is better, it's clear that the subject is not biting the woman.


I hope that helps.


Matthew Balson
www.competence.es

[HSS]

Thanks, Matthew.

Just wondering ... doesn't #1 sound like 'I' looked at her continuously throughout between 'my bites' whereas #2 in some length of time or at some point after 'my bites' and before the next?

Many thanks in advance.

Hiro/ Sendai, Japan