Hearing the news, she burst into tears/On hearing the news , she burst into tears.

[Vladv1]

Hearing the news, she burst into tears/On hearing the news , she burst into tears.
Could you explain what the difference is?

 

[jutfrank]

The second one includes the preposition 'on' which gives it extra meaning that the first does not have.

The word 'on' helps show that her reaction was immediate and caused by hearing the news.

 

[emsr2d2]

1. Hearing the news, she burst into tears.
2. On hearing the news, she burst into tears.

Note my changes above. Whenever you give us more than one sentence to look at, please number them. It makes it easier for us to refer to them in our responses.
Don't put a space before a comma.

 

[Tait-ka]

The second one includes the preposition 'on' which gives it extra meaning that the first does not have.

The sense 'on' helps show that her reaction was immediate and caused by hearing the news.

What does the first sentence mean?

 

[Vladv]

The second one includes the preposition 'on' which gives it extra meaning that the first does not have.

The sense 'on' helps show that her reaction was immediate and caused by hearing the news.

I would think that in the first one the reaction is immediate as well.

 

[jutfrank]

What does the first sentence mean?

I would think that in the first one the reaction is immediate as well.

Yes, both sentences have the same meaning. The preposition makes the meaning clearer.

 

[Vladv1]

Yes, both sentences have the same meaning. The preposition makes the meaning clearer.

Are there some verbs that when adding ON before them sound natural? On arriving, on seeing. Any other?

 

[jutfrank]

Are there some verbs that when adding ON before them sound natural? On arriving, on seeing. Any other?

The only generalisation I think you can usefully make here is that after this particular sense of 'on' the following verb will very likely express some kind of action. It has nothing to do with 'naturalness'. It's about meaning.

 

[Vladv1]

The only generalisation I think you can usefully make here is that after this particular sense of 'on' the following verb will very likely express some kind of action. It has nothing to do with 'naturalness'. It's about meaning.

Could you elaborate on "naturalness" please?

 

[jutfrank]

Could you elaborate on "naturalness" please?

I was addressing your question below:

Are there some verbs that when adding ON before them sound natural?

You've used the word 'natural' to describe verbs. What did you mean by that?

 

[Vladv1]

I meant verbs that sound natural when they follow on . I know only to. On arriving/on seeing.

I was addressing your question below:



You've used the word 'natural' to describe verbs. What did you mean by that?

 

[jutfrank]

Forget the idea that verbs can sound natural. You're asking here about the meaning of the preposition 'on'.