[Grammar] Different participles the same meaning?

[Kotfor]

Do they differ in meaning?

1) Written in pencil, the article was difficult to read.
2) Being written in pencil, the article was difficult to read.

 

[charliedeut]

Is this homework?

 

[Kotfor]

I am afraid not.

 

[charliedeut]

Be not afraid! :-D

They read the same to me. Personally, I would write them in a different way: "Because it was written..."/"Since it was written..."

I'm not saying you examples are incorrect, as I am not 100% sure about that. I'm just telling you what my personal choices would be in this case. :up:

 

[Kotfor]

Would you spot a difference if I switched it to

1) Asked whether he was going to come he pulled a face.
2) Being asked whether he was going to come he was pulling a face.

I infer that 1) means that he was asked only once and 2) means he was asked a few times or repeatedly. Do you think in the line with me on that or not?

 

[charliedeut]

The only difference I can sense at first glance is that your second set of examples lack the comma that was there in the first set.

 

[Kotfor]

A Comma is not a big deal in terms of verbal communication, I suspect. But what about the rest of it? Do they really mean the same to you?

 

[charliedeut]

To me, yes.

 

[Kotfor]

The only thing lacking here is an opinion of a native speaker.

 

[charliedeut]

I guess the only thing we can do is to wait a while for that, my friend! ;-)

 

[5jj]

The only thing lacking here is an opinion of a native speaker.

This native speaker did not join in, because charlie's responses were correct and accurate - as they usually are.

 

[charliedeut]

This native speaker did not join in, because charlie's responses were correct and accurate - as they usually are.

Oh you flatterer, you! ;-) :up::up:

 

[Rover_KE]

Oh you flatterer, you! ;-) :up::up:

He's well known for his flatulence.

 

[Barb_D]

2) Being asked whether he was going to come he was pulling a face.

I infer that 1) means that he was asked only once and 2) means he was asked a few times or repeatedly. Do you think in the line with me on that or not?

I'm sorry to disagree with the others, but I don't find #2 natural at all, especially not the "he was pulling a face" part.
Upon being asked, he pulled a face - this would be okay.

 

[Kotfor]

Well, I was just trying to figure out the difference between "Asked" and "being asked". Can you give me an example where these two would mean different things?

 

[Barb_D]

I would never use "Being asked."

I see no difference between "Asked whether he would.." and "Upon being asked whether he would..."

 

[Kotfor]

OK. So irrespectively whether he was asked only one time or 25 times during 30 minutes you would go with "ASKED". When would "being asked" work on its own then? 1) There were 5 men being asked the 3 questions.
2) There were 5 men asked the 3 questions.

 

[Raymott]

OK. So irrespectively whether he was asked only one time or 25 times during 30 minutes you would go with "ASKED". When would "being asked" work on its own then? 1) There were 5 men being asked the 3 questions.
2) There were 5 men asked the 3 questions.

Well, you've changed the whole context by moving it from beginning of the sentence. It's a different structure. 1. seems to be the only correct answer. But all these sentences sound so unnatural that it's hard to judge. Barb is right about the original context. You need "Upon/on being asked ..."

You ask when does "being asked" work on its own. But it's in a sentence. It doesn't work on its own, and rarely works as you've used it.
OK, I'll give one contrived example:
Mark: What would convince you to get married, Sandra?
Sandra: Being asked.

 

[Kotfor]

Raymott hi!
When I said "on its own" I meant without the word "upon" i.e. "upon being asked". But I did mean it to be used in a sentence, of course. I wasn't clear enough. Could you give a good example of "being asked" in a sentence?

 

[Raymott]

Raymott hi!
When I said "on its own" I meant without the word "upon" i.e. "upon being asked". But I did mean it to be used in a sentence, of course. I wasn't clear enough. Could you give a good example of "being asked" in a sentence?

Of course, but writing a sentence with "being asked" in it won't solve your problem, as my dialogue above shows.
Sandra: "Being asked would convince me." There you are. There are so many different syntactic structures in which "being asked" can be used that giving you a sentence or two with "being asked" in it won't help you with sentences that begin with "Being asked".
"I like being asked to parties."; "Being asked to parties pleases me."; "Being asked hard questions frustrates me."
I can't think of any case where I'd write, "Being asked, I went to the party".