A frightening storm has been lashing

[ParthJ26]

SC Guide Pg 208

# 11. A storm has been lashing South Padre Island, forcing Natalie and Todd to postpone their wedding. CORRECT.

Would the following sentence also be correct? Does it have a meaning different from the above sentence?

A storm is lashing South Padre Island, forcing Natalie and Todd to postpone their wedding. ??

Thanks, Sage.

Parth Jain

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

The example you give is correct, but the meaning is slightly different. Remember that 'comma -ing' modifiers take the tense of the verb in the clause that they're modifying. Therefore, in first example, it sounds like Natalie and Todd have already postponed their wedding (albeit recently). In your example, it sounds like they are doing the postponing right now.