Barry
He was trying to delete import data on the computer and "was burning/(to) burn" some documents. a. When the police broke into the house, he was trying to delete important data on the computer and "was burning" some documents. b. When the police broke into the house, he was trying to delete important data on the computer and “burn” some documents. c. When the police broke into the house, he was trying to delete important data on the computer and “to burn” some documents. →Which sentence is correct? Which makes more sense? Between sentences b and c, do you tend to omit "to" or not? Thanks!
May 1, 2016 4:29 PM
Answers · 3
None of them is really wrong, but B is the most natural option. You need to say "important" though, not "import" When the police broke into the house, he was trying TO DELETE important data on the computer and BURN some documents. So he was trying TO DELETE the documents and he was also trying TO BURN the documents. "to delete" and "to burn" are both infinitives, but most English speakers would just use "to" once and it would cover both "delete" and burn.
May 1, 2016
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