Grammar check please

Question

Hi There,Can you check for me if fourth sentences is grammatical, please?I heard you sing. (Entire event)I heard you singing. (At that moment, when I walked past)I heard singing. (At that moment, when I walked by)I heard sing. (Entire event) Can this be possible and correct??Thanks in advance.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

John AkiI heard sing. (Entire event) Can this be possible and correct??

No.

You seem to be investigating quite a large number of constructions in English. If you try to learn too many different things at once, they cause confusion. It's better if you learn one thing at a time.

1. Sentences like "I said that Gary was ready".
a) You can change the beginning in various ways.

I knew that Gary was ready. / He thought that Gary was ready. /
She heard that Gary was ready. / We noticed that Gary was ready.

b) You can change the ending in various ways.

I said that Fred was tired. / I said that I was sad. /
I said that the boss was angry. / I said that Bill found the keys.

2. Sentences like "I said Gary was ready".
These are the same as in 1, but "that" is omitted.

I knew Fred was tired. / We thought Gary was angry.
He heard Bill was ill. / They noticed the boy had a dog.

3. Sentences like "I said that the girls were singing" or "I said the girls were singing". [ with or without 'that']

I knew that he was working. / We thought John was playing baseball. /
They heard that the children were learning English. /
Brian noticed the boys were having lunch.

4. Sentences like "I saw the boys jump over the fence".
This type never has "that". It's called a catenative construction. It is used with "saw", "watched", "noticed" and "heard". It is not used with "said", "thought", or "knew".

I heard the girls sing. / She saw the man steal the money.
The men heard her scream. / The boss watched them play baseball.

5. Sentences like "I saw the boys playing basketball".
This is also a catenative construction that never uses "that". It is used (or not used) with the same verbs as described for type 4 sentences.

We noticed the women playing cards. /
The women watched the children having lunch. /
I heard the boys screaming. / I saw my mother cooking dinner.

The verb 'hear' is used two ways. If you hear information you use patterns 1, 2, or 3. If you hear the sound you use patterns 4 or 5.

I heard (that) the children sang well. (Somebody told you this information.)
I heard the children sing. (I heard the sound of the singing.)
Helen heard (that) your mother was screaming at the children.
(Somebody told Helen this information.)
Helen heard your mother screaming at the children.
(Helen heard the sound of the screaming.)

I think that's enough for now.

CJ

Grammar check please

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