the girl blinked v. the the girl was blinking.

[hhtt21]

The studio was aquarium of light; the woman and the girl blinked in the glare. Victor Maitland slammed the door behind them, locked it, put on the chain. The woman turned slowly to watch, unafraid.


I would you ask that shouldn't it be "the woman and the girl were blinking" instead "the woman and the girl blinked."

Source: The Second Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders.

Thank you.

 

[Tarheel]

No. The original is fine as is.

 

[hhtt21]

No. The original is fine as is.

But seems that blinking is a continous process. they were probably blinking for moments.

Thank you.

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

If the woman and the girl blinked in the galre, they probably did blink more than once.The verb 'blink' does not necessarily suggest a single blink.

Yes, that's why I'd definitely go for "blinking". I cannot understand why you've got another opinion.

 

[GoesStation]

But it seems that blinking is a continuous process. They were probably blinking for moments.

The quoted text suggests to me that the studio had just been lighted when the action was taking place; bright lights had been turned on or curtains had been opened. The natural reaction is to blink in the (newly brighter) light. If the writer wants to emphasize the initial reaction, the simple present is the right choice. Present continuous would work if the writer wants the reader to think the characters blinked continuously during the time described.

 

[Tdol]

Opening thread

 

[Tarheel]

Blinking only lasts a few seconds. Also, it is an involuntary process. If, however, you want to contradict both things then change it to "the woman and the girl were blinking".

 

[GoesStation]

You can blink voluntarily too.

 

[hhtt21]

Blinking only lasts a few seconds. Also, it is an involuntary process. If, however, you want to contradict both things then change it to "the woman and the girl were blinking".

What does it mean by "If, however, you want to contradict both things ..." ?

Thank you.

 

[hhtt21]

The quoted text suggests to me that the studio had just been lighted when the action was taking place; bright lights had been turned on or curtains had been opened. The natural reaction is to blink in the (newly brighter) light. If the writer wants to emphasize the initial reaction, the simple present is the right choice. Present continuous would work if the writer wants the reader to think the characters blinked continuously during the time described.

Is it "newly brighting" ?

Thank you.

 

[GoesStation]

Is it "newly brighting" ?

No, that is ungrammatical.