Is it ok to say.....

Question

Which one is correct?1)It’s probably boring as hell listening to me tell you that.2) It’s probably boring as hell listening to me telling you that.3) Both

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

The gerund form (-ing) is correct.
A gerund is a verb that can be used as a noun (subject, object) in a sentence.
The gerund form is the present participle. (verb + ing)

Ticce · Answer

AlpheccaStars The gerund form (-ing) is correct.
A gerund is a verb that can be used as a noun (subject, object) in a sentence.
The gerund form is the present participle. (verb + ing)

I agree on that wholeheartedly. However, does it mean that the first sentence is completely wrong in the context of the arisen issue?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

You have made some very complex sentences, so it is not easy to explain without a lot of detail.
Here is my analysis of the grammar in the second sentence. I am not an expert in grammar, so I invite other members of the forum to comment.
It (pronoun, subject) is (main verb) probably (adverb, modifying adjective boring) boring (present participle of verb bore, predicate adjective) as **** (adverb, modifying "boring") listening (gerund, predicate noun, antecedent is "it" ) to me (pronoun, indirect object of verbal "listening") telling (present participle, adjective modifying me; but could possibly be a gerund, direct object of verbal listening) you (indirect object of verbal telling) that (direct object of verbal telling)
"Tell" can be correct, if it is used in a dependent clause. I made the sentence less complex to show the grammar:
Listening to me when I tell you that is probably boring as ****.
Listening (gerund, subject of verb is) to me (indirect object of verbal listening)
when I tell you that (dependent clause, adverb, modifying verbal listening)
etc...

However, in speaking, people often take shortcuts in grammar, and not lose meaning. In this case, your second sentence omits the words "when I".

BarbaraPA · Answer

Sorry, I think you made this really complicated.

All of these forms are fine.

I saw him cross the street. I saw him crossing the street. -- Cross shows the action is complete, crossing shows the event in progress.

I heard him play the piano. I heard him playing piano. -- Play shows the event is over, playing emphasizes the "in progress" nature of what was heard.

...telling you that. ...tell you that. -- To me, they're the same difference. The length of how long it took seems emphasized in "telling" while the entire part of what was send is captured by "tell."

Is it ok to say.....

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