Appeared to suffer / Appeared to have suffered

[Musicgold]

Hi,

The following first sentence is from the New York Times. The second sentence is my version with a slight change. Does the second sentence convey the same meaning as the first one?

1. The attackers were driven back in a pitched four-hour battle, and they appeared to suffer scores of dead and wounded of their own, but the toll they inflicted was sobering.

2. The attackers were driven back in a pitched four-hour battle, and they appeared to have suffered scores of dead and wounded of their own, but the toll they inflicted was sobering.

Thanks,

MG.

[Alan]

Hi,

The difference between the present infinitive and the perfect infinitive is one of immediacy or reflection. The present infinitive in your first sentence suggests the reporter was saying: As far as I can see. In the second sentence this suggests the reporter was saying: As I found out later.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A day in the life of a policeman

[Musicgold]

Thanks Alan.