"He sat thinking" vs "He sat thinking for some time"

Question

"He sat thinking" vs "He sat thinking for some time"

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'He sat thinking for some time' implies that he spent a considerable amount of time thinking, while 'he sat thinking' simply states that he was engaged in thinking without specifying the duration. The choice between the two depends on whether you want to emphasize the duration of the thinking process.

Last Updated: March 12, 2024

This phrase simply states that the person was thinking without specifying the duration. It is a more general statement about the person's mental activity.

Examples:

He sat thinking about the problem.
She sat thinking about her future.

Alternatives:

He was lost in thought.
He pondered quietly.
He contemplated.

This phrase is used to emphasize the duration of the thinking process. It implies that the person spent a significant period engaged in thought.

Examples:

He sat thinking for some time before coming to a decision.
She sat thinking for some time about what to say next.

Alternatives:

He sat thinking deeply for a while.
He sat pondering for some time.
He sat lost in thought for a while.

Answer 1

He sat thinking

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that someone was engaged in thinking.

Answer 2

He sat thinking for some time

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that someone spent a considerable amount of time engaged in thinking.

"He sat thinking" vs "He sat thinking for some time"

He sat thinking

He sat thinking for some time

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