Two sentences

pdh0224 · Post by **pdh0224** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 3:39 am

Dear teacher,

I heard the cup fall off the table.

I heard the cup falling off the table.

Q : Which is more natural? and Could you explain the reason?

All the best,

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:03 am

Although both are grammatically sound, only the first is plausible: the infinitive in this construction refers to the whole of the action/event (including, therefore, the cup's finally hitting the floor, something which could be heard), whereas the participle refers only to some part of the action, and the movement of the cup through the air alone would be unlikely to produce an audible sound.