never before/ never?

[vkhu]

I need to paraphrase this sentence:

I have never heard of such a weak excuse

I can think of two possibilities but since the key page containing the answer is torn out, I don't know which one is correct:
->Never have I heard such a weak excuse.
->Never before have I heard such a weak excuse.

So are these both grammatically correct? Which one has the closest meaning to the original?

[5jj]

I have never heard of such a weak excuse

->Never have I heard such a weak excuse.
->Never before have I heard such a weak excuse.

Both of them are correct grammatically, but neither of them says exactly the same as the original. There is a difference between 'hearing' and excuse and 'hearing of' an excuse.

[vkhu]

Both of them are correct grammatically, but neither of them says exactly the same as the original. There is a difference between 'hearing' and excuse and 'hearing of' an excuse.

There is Could you elaborate?

[JohnParis]

Paraphrase "I have never heard of such a weak excuse".

I have heard many excuses, but never one as feeble as this one.

[vkhu]

Paraphrase "I have never heard of such a weak excuse".

I have heard many excuses, but never one as feeble as this one.

I appreciate your help but currently I just want to know the difference between "hearing" and "hearing of"

[5jj]

I appreciate your help but currently I just want to know the difference between "hearing" and "hearing of"

If you hear of something, you learn about it from somebody else; you do not hear it yourself.

[vkhu]

If you hear of something, you learn about it from somebody else; you do not hear it yourself.

Aright. Thanks for the help.