desire vs long to

[ostap77]

''The desire to find a solution was very strong.''

OR

"We have been longing to find a solution."

Which would be a better one?

 

[Mehrgan]

''The desire to find a solution was very strong.''

OR

"We have been longing to find a solution."

Which would be a better one?

*not a teacher*

Both verbs sound alright. But, the first sentence refers to a certain time in the past, while the second one shows you have been craving such a solution over a time, till now.

 

[ostap77]

*not a teacher*

Both verbs sound alright. But, the first sentence refers to a certain time in the past, while the second one shows you have been craving such a solution over a time, till now.

Which one would you choose among these two?

 

[Mehrgan]

Which one would you choose among these two?

The only thing that matters to me is the time of the action. Regardless of that I'd go for both choices.



*not a teacher*

 

[Munch]

The only thing that matters to me is the time of the action. Regardless of that I'd go for both choices.



*not a teacher*

Agreed about the time issue, but there is perhaps one more difference.

"Longing to" is usually quite emotional. "Desire to" can be emotional or it can be unemotional. What is the context?

 

[ostap77]

Agreed about the time issue, but there is perhaps one more difference.

"Longing to" is usually quite emotional. "Desire to" can be emotional or it can be unemotional. What is the context?

When you talk to someone? Just the structure of a sentence that would be used in speech?