Re: Difference in meaning between sentences
Yoong Liat wrote:We had a chat as we were waiting.
We were having a chat as we waited.
Are both sentences correct and is there a difference in meaning between them?
Many thanks.
I think there is a difference in meaning, at least you could make a difference if you tried. (I'm not sure a difference was intended, and they could easily equally likely be construed as the same) Am I making any sense? Perhaps not.
Sentence #1
Because we were waiting, and were together, we chatted.
(Mentioning the waiting is the most important feature here)
Sentence #2
We were having a chat. The waiting is more incidental.
(The conversation is the most important feature here)
But really I'm splitting hairs a bit, I think.