Be or not?

Question

Hello! I'd like to know the differences between the following sentences.(Assuming they are correct)

I have not seen you in this channel.

I have not seen you be in this channel.

I have not seen you being in this channel.

Would you please explain it?

Thanks.

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

Only the first one is correct.

Nugso · Answer

Thank you, AG, but could you please explain?

I have not seen you play.

I have not seen you playing.

Thus, according to the sentences above, I thought they were correct.

Khoff · Answer

NugsoI have not seen you in this channel.

I don't understand what you mean by "in this channel." If you are talking about television, use "on this channel."

RandomGuy · Answer

NugsoI have not seen you play.
I have not seen you playing.
Thus, according to the sentences above, I thought they were correct.

I'm not sure what gave you that idea. Both of the examples above are correct, but a native speaker would never say the second one. As for your original examples, we don't say be or being in those cases.

I saw Jim at the convention last night.
*I saw Jim being at the convention last night.

I'll see you at school next week.
*I'll see you be at school next week.

There are a lot of people here.
*There are a lot of people being here.

khoffI don't understand what you mean by "in this channel." If you are talking about television, use "on this channel."

In online game servers, rooms are sometimes called channels, e.g., I'm in the Expert Channel. I'm guessing that's the kind of channel Nugso has in mind.

Nugso · Answer

I meant something like online chat channels.

I have not seen you in the chat.

I apologize for not being clear!

Nugso · Answer

Thank you for clarifying it, AG.

Aspara GusI'm not sure what gave you that idea. Both of the examples above are correct, but a native speaker would never say the second one. As for your original examples, we don't say be or being in those cases.

Um, well, I have not seen you + verb -> I have not seen you play. -> I have not seen you be in the chat. I think this is the situation where I'm stuck with.

Aspara GuskhoffI don't understand what you mean by "in this channel." If you are talking about television, use "on this channel."In online game servers, rooms are sometimes called channels, e.g., expert channel. I'm guessing that's the kind of channel Nugso has in mind.

You're dead right AsparaGus!

CalifJim · Answer

NugsoI have not seen you play.I have not seen you playing.

These are OK because "play" is a dynamic verb. (It shows action.)
You can't form these patterns with stative verbs like be.

CJ

Nugso · Answer

Thank you CalifJim. So saying ' They see me hating' is incorrect, right? I am asking this because It's always used. But I guess it's a common mistake like amount of people.

CalifJim · Answer

Nugsosaying ' They see me hating' is incorrect, right?

Right. I don't hear this at all where I live, so I'm surprised to hear that "it's always used".

CJ

RandomGuy · Answer

They see me rollin'. They hatin'. (They are jealous of me.)

I believe that's how it usually goes. It's from a popular rap song. I suppose mostly teenagers say it because they think it sounds cool.

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