Teleostomi Posted 19 years ago
I wonder, wouldn't modern English speakers say "be smiling"?
Grammar
"He seemed to smile."
I'm wondering if there's any difference between "be smiling" and "smile" in the sentence.
Heathcliff was there on the bed. He seemed to smile. I could not think him dead.
I wonder, wouldn't modern English speakers say "be smiling"?
Top answer
I agree. This is, after all, over 150 years old. PS: ...
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I agree. This is, after all, over 150 years old.
PS: ... Unless his mouth actually moved!
PS: ... Unless his mouth actually moved!
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difference between "be smiling" and "smile" in the sentence.smile = to make a movement of the mouth that produces a smile.
be smiling = to have the mouth in the shape of a smile.
I suspect the author used smile to mean be smiling, but one never knows what is happening in the imagination of an author. Maybe he did indeed seem (to her) to
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