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USSOhio Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Cat Watching

If I am looking at some cats:

"I am watching cats."
"I am cat watching."

Could the second one be wrong, because "watching" is transitive? Do I need to put a dash between "cat" and "watching"?
  

Top answer

By the way you can use one of the followings: 1- I'm watching cats. 2-I'm looking at cats. We can use bird watching, but never heard of cat watching.

— Imantaghavi

  • By the way you can use one of the followings: 1- I'm watching cats.
  • 2-I'm looking at cats.
  • We can use bird watching, but never heard of cat watching.
  • Let's see what others say.
  • Iman
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8 Answers
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Hi USSOhio,

To watch sth means to look at someone or something for a period of time, paying attention to what is happening.By the way you can use one of the followings:
1- I'm watching cats.
2-I'm looking at cats.

We can use bird watching, but never heard of cat watching.

Let's see what others say.

Iman
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imantaghaviWe can use bird watching, but never heard of cat watching.
Also whale watching is a popular pastime.

People pay to go on bird watching and whale watching trips.
I don't think that anyone would pay for cat watching, unless the felines were leopards, lions, cheetahs, or tigers. That is called a safari.
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Thanks AlpheccaStars!

But, do I need a dash in these?

"He was bird watching."
"He was girl watching."
"He was whale watching."
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No. They are fine as you have written them.
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Thank you for your reply, AlpheccaStars!

So, these are always the same?

"He was girl watching."
"He was watching girls."
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USSOhio"He was girl watching.""He was watching girls."
No, they seem a bit different.

Girl watching is a recreational activity.
We go to the mall to do people watching.

He was watching girls - does not imply that is was planned, or something recreational.
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So, these are just are different?

"He was whale watching."
"He was watching whales."
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Take a look at this, and I hope you see what I mean: http://www.newportwhales.com/
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