Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[BMO]

1. I found him seating by the table.
2. I found him seated by the table.

Are these two sentences identical in meaning?

3. I noticed Tim played ball well.

Is this wrong because "notice" is a verb of perception and can take in only the -ing form or the base form of a verb?
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4. Are the following correct and how would you say it idiomatically?

a. Don't turn on the faucet too much so you won't waste too much water.
b. Don't open the faucet too much so you won't waste too much water.
c. Don't turn on the faucet too much to aviod wasting too much water.
d. Don't turn on the faucet too much in order to not wasting too much water.


Thanks a lot.

[bud]

Hi BMO,

1. Incorrect (you would have to use "to sit" here)
2. Correct
3. The sentence is correct. Why wouldn't we be able to have perceived in the past?
4. Correct. The only idiom that comes to mind is, "Waste not, want not," but that is not a perfect fit... I think the natural way of saying this is, "Don't waste water." It is not necessary to connect the thought of wasting water with the thought of turning on the faucet.

Hope that helps.

[BMO]

Thanks, it does.