Hi everyone,
What is the difference between these two sentences:
1. Having been shown a number of pictures to choose from, the witness did not point at me.
2. Being shown a number of pictures to choose from, the witness did not point at me.
I find it hard to understand the difference in meaning between them two. Thanks in advance.
Hi, Adrianna ~
The two sentences are synonyms.
It's "writer's choice" which one to use.
Because of the phrase "Having been shown," the first sentence locates the event firmly in the past or past perfect.
The second sentence does not stress the past tense as much, as though the writer were thinking of the event in a rolling-along, on-going way.
As is usual in cases of usage and preference between close phrasing, the distinction is weak and elusive, evaporating when we try to analyze it.
As an aside, the sentence you wrote should say
> I find it hard to understand the difference in meaning between THESE (or THOSE) two.
The word THEM is not used as an adjective.
ALWAYS WRONG:
>
Them boys better stop all that shouting.
> I hate seeing
them streams filled with trash.
> I wonder where
them cats have gone.
> What is the difference between
them two?
ALWAYS CORRECT:
>
Those boys better stop all that shouting.
> I hate seeing
these streams filled with trash.
> I wonder where
those cats have gone.
> What is the difference between
those two?
CORRECT USE OF "THEM" -- as a pronoun
> The boys are shouting, so tell them (a pronoun for "boys") to be quiet.
> The streams are polluted with trash; let's clean them. (a pronoun for "streams")
> The cats are hiding, but I will find them. (a pronoun for "cats")
> What is the difference between
them? (a pronoun for "boys")
I hope this was helpful.
Best wishes in your studies.
