If you have figured out how to derive the meaning of a sentence containing nothing other than eight uses of the word “buffalo,” then roll up your sleeves and tackle this beauty:
“James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher.”
No, the author does not stutter, nor did his computer keyboard malfunction. It’s an actual sentence. All that’s missing is the correct punctuation. Can you figure out what that should be?
It may help if you understand that the sentence discusses two students, James and John. Their teacher gave them the assignment to write about a man who once suffered from a cold.
John’s choice of words was to write, “The man had a cold.” James, on the other hand, wrote, “The man had had a cold.” The teacher preferred James’ version over John’s.
With that in mind, add the following punctuation and emphasis:
James, while John had had “had,” had had “had had“; “had had” had had a better effect on the teacher.
A slightly different use of punctuation results in John’s answer being preferable over the one provided by James:
James, while John had had “had had,” had had “had“; “had had” had had a better effect on the teacher.
Had enough had hads?
Can You Cut the Cake Into Eight Pieces?
It’s your lucky day! Just in time for your birthday party, a beautiful circular cake has been delivered to your house. It promises to be just as pleasing to the tastebuds as it is to the eyes. There’s just one little problem. The only available knife is on its last legs. You can use it…
Can You Solve the Fork in the Road Brain Teaser?
Imagine you walking along a path. You reach a fork in the road. Each of the divergent paths is blocked by a guard. A sign tells you that one path leads to Heaven. The other leads to Valparaiso, Indiana Hell. It also tells you that the guards know the true destination of each path. You…
Can You Solve the Unexpected Hanging Paradox?
The Unexpected Hanging Paradox — also known by various names such as the Surprise Examination and the Surprise Drill — has stumped the most brilliant of thinkers. It has been debated in magazine articles, academic papers, and blog posts. Despite all the attention given to the topic, a definitive resolution of the paradox remains elusive.…
Categories: Brainteasers and Puzzles, Education, Languages
Commonplace Fun Facts 