A voice was heard...

[99bottles]

How should I arrange the words in the sentence below?

1. Suddenly, a voice was heard coming from outside the room.

2. Suddenly, a voice coming from outside the room was heard.

I think Option #2 is better, because Option #1 sounds as if you didn't necessarily hear the voice but rather the action of the voice coming from outside the room, as if the voice was an entity.

Any help?

 

[Tarheel]

If I heard somebody talking I wouldn't say I heard a voice. Instead, I would say I heard somebody talking.

I will save any additional comments for later.

 

[5jj]

I prefer option #1.

 

[99bottles]

I prefer option #1.

Why? What do you have to say about my concerns regarding option #1?

 

[5jj]

Option #1 sounds as if you didn't necessarily hear the voice but rather the action of the voice coming from outside the room, as if the voice was an entity.

It sounds far-fetched to me.

 

[Tarheel]

How should I arrange the words in the sentence below?

1. Suddenly, a voice was heard coming from outside the room.

2. Suddenly, a voice coming from outside the room was heard.

I think Option #2 is better, because Option #1 sounds as if you didn't necessarily hear the voice but rather the action of the voice coming from outside the room, as if the voice was an entity.

Any help?

I agree with you about the first one. As for the second one, it's phrased oddly. (The verb is at the end.)

There is a remote chance that I would say I heard a voice. Instead, I would say I heard somebody talking.

This story is begging for me to tell it. Many years ago, some people were speaking Spanish outside the apartment while I was trying to sleep. I didn't know enough Spanish to say it politely, so I told them rather rudely to be quiet. What's my point? Well, while I certainly heard their voices, the way I would phrase it is they were talking loudly.