Can someone please tell me if which of the two sentences is correct?

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Here are the two sentences.

1. This was the fastest I heard someone responded.
2. This was the fastest I heard someone respond.

Can someone help me understand:
A) Which one is correct, and what is wrong with the mechanics of the incorrect one?
B) If they are both correct, can someone tell me what is the subtle difference between the two different words used?

I chose #1, but my rival chose #2 and everyone agreed with him because they said it "sounds" good. But i'm interested in mechanics and accuracy not sounds. I am really confused with this one. Help from the grammar mechanics gurus is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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Type: Question • Score: 5 • Views: 1,506 • Replies: 34

[+3] - McTag - 02/07/2014 Are you taking lessons from JTT? You have made various unwarranted assumptions, are wrong on various unnecessary points above, and your attitude is very bad.

@checkjthomas,

Both are grammatical. The one chosen is a matter of context. All language operates in context.

1. This was the fastest I heard someone responded.

2. This was the fastest I heard someone respond.

0 Replies

Quote:

1. This was the fastest I heard someone responded.

2. This was the fastest I heard someone respond.

1. I heard about this, I was told by someone else.
2. I heard the actual response myself.

2 Replies

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

1. I heard about this, I was told by someone else.

Mr. McTag,
these r 2 improperly punctuated sentences,
otherwise described as "a run-on sentence."

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

Mr. McTag,
these r 2 improperly punctuated sentences,
otherwise described as "a run-on sentence."

Don't be such a prat. If you look at a dictionary, (although maybe you don't) you will see words and phrases separated by commas. That was the intent here.
Lord, spare us from the misguided attentions of illiterate pedants.

2 Replies

@McTag,

DAVID wrote:

Mr. McTag,
these r 2 improperly punctuated sentences,
otherwise described as "a run-on sentence."

McTag wrote:

Don't be such a prat.

What kind shud I BE ?

McTag wrote:

If you look at a dictionary, (although maybe you don't)
you will see words and phrases separated by commas.

Of course. That is what commas r for,
but thay r not for separating complete sentences; that 's what semi-colons r for.
Incidentally, your exculpatory effort de facto
is only that lexicografers fall into error also.
If a lexicografer robs a bank, will u emulate him ????

McTag wrote:

That was the intent here.

What u DO
and what u intend r not necessarily the same thing.
It is HUMOROUS when u try to wiggle out of your mistake
by condemning OTHERS for illiteracy,
when u have your foot stuck in it. Multiple be the chuckles!

McTag wrote:

Lord, spare us from the misguided attentions of illiterate pedants.

I am not a lord
and u r not honest enuf to admit your errors.

Does that tell us anything about your character ?

David

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

Are you taking lessons from JTT? You have made various unwarranted assumptions, are wrong on various unnecessary points above, and your attitude is very bad.

2 Replies

@McTag,

Even OmSig has you speaking McTag bafflegab.

OmfuckingSig!!!!

You really are hopeless when it comes to analyzing language.

0 Replies

@checkjthomas,

There's something wrong with 1. though not sure what, and doubtless we'll hear from a grammarian or two

1. This (that) was the fastest (quickest) I had heard someone (anyone) respond

0 Replies

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

Are you taking lessons from JTT?

That 's a terrible thing to say, Mr. McTag.
That 's hitting below the belt.

McTag wrote:

You have made various unwarranted assumptions,
are wrong on various unnecessary points above, and your attitude is very bad.

What r the "assumptions" ??

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

You seem to have decided that I should have used a semicolon instead of a comma and are in the process of building a federal case out of it.
Well, good luck with that. You'll forgive me if I leave you to get on with it.

2 Replies

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

You seem to have decided that I should have used a semicolon instead of a comma
and are in the process of building a federal case out of it.
Well, good luck with that. You'll forgive me if I leave you to get on with it.

OK, Your Dismissiveness!
I thought that writing CORRECTLY was the issue at hand.
Have a nice weekend.

With all Best Wishes

From David

1 Reply

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

You seem to have decided that I should have used a semicolon instead of a comma and are in the process of building a federal case out of it.

He's nutty. He seems to have abandoned his one-man rational spelling campaign, but he's still a nutter.

2 Replies

@McTag,

Re: OmSigDAVID (Post 5573911)
Quote:
Mr. McTag,
these r 2 improperly punctuated sentences,
otherwise described as "a run-on sentence."

Don't be such a prat. If you look at a dictionary, (although maybe you don't) you will see words and phrases separated by commas. That was the intent here.
Lord, spare us from the misguided attentions of illiterate pedants.

--------------------

What's the matter, McTag, you don't like to be on the receiving end of a pedant delivering cockamamie advice? Perhaps you'll think twice before you pull the same stunt, as you are oh so prone to doing.

And unbelievable, it's OmSig, the language dummy, that has you falling all over yourself trying to get yourself out of the pickle you think you are in.

And of course, you haven't resorted to diversion or name calling. You have simply explained your position as any expert on the English language would.

1 Reply

@contrex,

Up pops Mr English Teacher. Perhaps Contrex will explain for you, McTag.

1 Reply

@checkjthomas,

Can someone please tell me if which of the two sentences is correct?

Can someone please tell me (if) which of the two sentences is correct?

OR

Can someone please tell me if (which of) the two sentences are correct?

0 Replies

@JTT,

"Perhaps Contrex will explain for you, McTag."

And maybe we'll see pigs fly.

0 Replies

@contrex,

Now he 's pretending to psychiatric expertise, with his fake diagnosis.

Anyway, for the record:
my attitude toward fonetic spelling is liberal; i.e., it is inconsistent.
I apply it when I feel like it. My laziness has a lot to do with it.

David

0 Replies

@checkjthomas,

checkjthomas wrote:

1. This was the fastest I heard someone responded.
2. This was the fastest I heard someone respond.

Sentence (1) is wrong because we don't use a participle after a superlative like that, we use the base form of the verb (the infinitive).

Wrong: That is the slowest I have seen someone ate.
Correct: That is the slowest I have seen someone eat.

Wrong: This was the fastest I heard someone answered.
Correct: This was the fastest I heard someone answer.

Wrong: That was the fastest I saw someone ran.
Correct: That was the fastest I saw someone run.

Wrong: That was the loudest I heard someone shouted.
Correct: That was the loudest I heard someone shout.

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

I thought that writing CORRECTLY was the issue at hand.

The issue at hand is giving correct advice and help to the OP, which I did very neatly, above.

1 Reply

Can someone please tell me if which of the two sentences is correct?

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