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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > SINGING or SING?    

SINGING or SING?



eaglestar
Philippines

SINGING or SING?
 

Hi friends!

I need your expert advice on this one. hehehe

Which is correct?

The principal passed by the room and heard the pupils singing.

The principal passed by the room and heard the pupils sing.

Thank you very much. Mwah!

Stella

22 Jun 2011      





Tere-arg
Argentina

Far from being  an "expert" (wish I were!)  Wink

Both are correct, depending on the context:

"...heard the pupils sing" means he heard from beginning to end
"...heard them singing" means he heard the action in process (just part of it)

Hope it helps

22 Jun 2011     



dawnmain
United Kingdom

I agree

22 Jun 2011     



yanogator
United States

I agree that both are correct, but the context (passing by) implies that it was just a piece of an ongoing process, so "singing" would be the best choice.
 
Bruce

22 Jun 2011     



redcamarocruiser
United States

He heard the children sing sounds to me like they stopped singing while he was listening.
He heard the children singing sounds to me like they were still singing when he finished passing by (and the singing was in progress when he was listening, as Bruce said).

22 Jun 2011     



eaglestar
Philippines



Thank you very much for your ideas. I am now enlightened. So, I can now go to my boss and tell her I WAS RIGHT!!! Hehehehe.

Have a nice day to you all! :-)

23 Jun 2011