Sb is right to do sth与Sb is right in doing sth的对错与

问题描述

请老师说说下面两个句子的对与错：
He was right to tell his parents about what has happened.
He was right in telling his parents about what has happened.
这两个句子的对错可以归结到 Sb is right to do sth与Sb is right in doing sth的对错。我想请教的是：如果都对，它们有区别吗？如果有错的话，是什么性质的错误？语法错误还是惯用法错误？谢谢！

老师答疑

陈老师：

表示做某事是对的，be right 后可接不定式或in doing sth，两者意思基本相同。如：
You’re right to do [in doing] so. 你这样做的是对的。
He was right in selling [to sell] the farm. 他把农庄卖掉是对的。

所以你的两个句子都是对的。意思是：他是对的，把所发生的情况告诉了他的父母。
顺便说一句，为了保持时态的呼应，建议将句中的 has happened 改为 had happened 较好。