Example:
I nodded, my chest suddenly feeling heavier
I nodded, my chest feeling suddenly heavier
Are both sentences grammatical? Does it make any difference where suddenly is placed?
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2They are both grammatically correct. The difference is what is more important to convey, the suddenness or the feeling.– mplungjanCommented Oct 13, 2014 at 9:18
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2 Answers
Update:
As pointed out to me by Araucaria in the comments, my initial examples didn't quite work. So I'll have another go: Yes, both sentences are grammatically correct. The main difference is how "suddenly" is being used. In your first sentence, it's used as an adverb of manner. This means it modifies the verb (feeling):
I nodded, my chest gradually feeling heavier
As opposed to:
I nodded, my chest suddenly feeling heavier
It denotes the sudden nature of the action (feeling). The subject is either slowly becoming aware of a feeling, or is acutely aware of it. Your second example uses the same word as an adjective, modifying the comparative heavier:
I nodded, my chest feeling gradually heavier
I nodded, my chest feeling suddenly heavier
In this case, both sentences express the same action: the subject feeling something. The adjective modifies the comparative. It's not the speed at which the subject is aware of the feeling, but rather the speed at which the feeling manifests itself that changes.
Again, both are 100% correct, but the first sentence is more common. The latter less so, because in normal conversation, it's less likely for someone to describe a change in sensory awareness in detail. You will, however, find sentences like this in books quite often.
Original (incorrect) answer:
Both are correct, though the first sentence definitely is more common (or "the first sentence is definitely more common" either way is fine). The latter is perhaps more formal, and more suited for written language than it is for use in conversation.
In some cases there might be a different connotation, though:
I was suddenly feeling quite sick
I suddenly was feeling quite sick
I was feeling quite sick, all of a sudden (not really relevant here)
The first example stresses the sudden onset of sickness, whereas the second example puts the adverb first, to emphasize that it all happened quite, well, suddenly.
The third example stresses the feeling even more, and adds the fact that it happened suddenly in a sort of "in retrospect" kind of way.
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@Araucaria: In both of the OP's cases, or just the second one? I get what you mean, if you're referring to the OP's second example (suddenly heavier instead of suddenly feeling) Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 11:52
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@Araucaria: You are absolutely right, I've edited my answer, correcting my mistake Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 12:06
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I don't think you need the confessional edit!! it kinda spoils your eloquent prose. I've deleted my comments (and upvoted your answer). I reckon it would be better without the edit note though ;) Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 12:08
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@Araucaria: Thanks, but I'm not a linguist, I'm a geek who firmly believes in the open-source ethics: credit to those who deserve it, and admit to making mistakes. Some may call it apologetic or confessional, I call it being honest Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 12:12
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Yes, but I wasn't up to writing an answer, you were, and I'd err on the side of leaving a nice clear post for your readers. I've removed my comments now so it might be a bit confusing for the readers here. Anyhow - your post! And it's a good helpful one! Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 12:14
I nodded, all of a sudden, my chest feels heavier..
