....begun reading

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ratóncolorao

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Can you tell me the difference between these two sentences.?

I have begun to read the book you sent me.
I have begun reading the book you sent me.

Thank you :roll:
 

mmasny

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Do you think there is a difference? There is none, in my opinion. Only when the continuous tense is used the gerund form of the word should appear (to avoid the '-ing' repetition).

I am not a teacher.
 

ratóncolorao

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Do you think there is a difference? There is none, in my opinion. Only when the continuous tense is used the gerund form of the word should appear (to avoid the '-ing' repetition).

I am not a teacher.

Yes, I agree with you. I just wanted to check if some native speakers had some tip to add.
Only the second part of your message is not very clear to me. Could you please, explain it with examples?

Thank you :-D
 

Mzungu39

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a) I like running.
b) I want to learn English.
c) She let me stay there.
d) It began to rain.
It began raining.
e) He stopped smoking.
He stopped to smoke.

In English verbs can be divided in different groups according to the structure that follows them.
a) Some (like, love, hate, enjoy) are followed by gerund, b) some by to-infinitive (the largest group), c) some by bare infinitive (let, make), d)some by gerund or to-if. without a change in meaning and e) some by gerund or to-if. with a change in meaning

I've tried to make it clear and simple.

I'm not a native of English.
 

mmasny

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Do you think there is a difference? There is none, in my opinion. Only when the continuous tense is used the [STRIKE]gerund[/STRIKE] infinitive form of the word should appear (to avoid the '-ing' repetition).

I am not a teacher.
I've just noticed the nonsense of what I've written.
 

kfredson

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a) I like running.
b) I want to learn English.
c) She let me stay there.
d) It began to rain.
It began raining.
e) He stopped smoking.
He stopped to smoke.

In English verbs can be divided in different groups according to the structure that follows them.
a) Some (like, love, hate, enjoy) are followed by gerund, b) some by to-infinitive (the largest group), c) some by bare infinitive (let, make), d)some by gerund or to-if. without a change in meaning and e) some by gerund or to-if. with a change in meaning

I've tried to make it clear and simple.

I'm not a native of English.

These are good examples, but you aren't suggesting that the two sentences in (e) mean the same thing, are you?
 

mmasny

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I don't thing the poster is suggesting that. From the post quoted by you:
e) some by gerund or to-if. with a change in meaning
 

Mzungu39

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mmasny, that's right.

It seems that kfredson wasn't very attentive when reading my explanation :) It happens...

d) It began to rain. no difference in meaning
It began raining.
e) He stopped smoking. He quit smoking.
He stopped to smoke. He made a stop (on his way) in order to light a cigarette.
 

kfredson

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mmasny, that's right.

It seems that kfredson wasn't very attentive when reading my explanation :) It happens...

d) It began to rain. no difference in meaning
It began raining.
e) He stopped smoking. He quit smoking.
He stopped to smoke. He made a stop (on his way) in order to light a cigarette.

Thank you. You're right. You did mention that there was a difference. My apologies.
 
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