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Are all correct? Any difference in meaning?

1 I found him to be sitting by the fire.

2 I found him sitting by the fire.

3 I found him to be a swindler.

4 I found him being a swindler.

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(2) is more natural than (1), because we usually use found him to be in relation to a personal quality (as in (3)) rather than a temporary situation.

(4) is unidiomatic. (It implies I found him in the act of swindling someone, but it's not a natural way to say that.)

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  • Could you elaborate whether 1 is wrong or what?
    – user1425
    Commented Mar 3 at 18:25
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    As I said, it's much less natural than (2) for the reason I gave, but I suppose it isn't definitively 'wrong'.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Mar 4 at 9:16

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