The World Wildlife Fund has declared that

The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon most scientist agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by altering the environment in ways harmful to their habitat.

2 Explanations

▲

Jonathan , Magoosh Tutor

Sravya, there is a difference:

The key noun in "human being's burning of fossil fuels" is "burning" or "the act of burning"

The key noun in "fossil fuels burned by human beings" is "fossil fuels."

The former is more precise, as it's the BURNING of fossil fuels that explains the phenomenon, not the fossil fuels themselves.

I hope that helps :)

May 15, 2015 • Comment

▲

Mike McGarry, Magoosh Tutor

May 25, 2013 • Comment

Sravya Avasarala

Is there a difference between 'human being's burning of fossil fuels' and 'fossil fuels burned by human beings' ? Does the latter change the intended meaning?

May 13, 2015 • Reply