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Pructus Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

"I saw him about to do it"

If, "I saw him about to do it" is considered correct, but "I saw him to do it" is considered incorrect, then the difference is only "about".

The word "about" makes that much difference? Is there no possibility that we can translate "I saw him to do it" into some meaning similar to "I saw him about to do it"?
  

Top answer

Oh, it makes a big difference. About is a preposition. The infinitive phrase "to do it" is the object of the prepostion.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Oh, it makes a big difference.
  • About is a preposition.
  • The infinitive phrase "to do it" is the object of the prepostion.
  • I saw him to do it is not grammatically correct.
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13 Answers
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Oh, it makes a big difference. About is a preposition. The infinitive phrase "to do it" is the object of the prepostion.
I saw him to do it is not grammatically correct.
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In the same context with, "see him to do", is "had me to do".

It is said that after the verbs, see, hear and have, make, "to" is not allowed.

Googling by "had me to do" showed 65,600 results. Not all of these results could be showing "had me to do" as meaning "made me to do", but pretty many seem to be.

************

Dr. Kroner had me to do exercises
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Hi Pructus: I am a native speaker, 8th generation American.
If you use Googling to find the truth, well, I wish you good luck.
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pructusDr. Kroner had me to do exercises and go back to see him three times a week and now I feel like I have gotten my life back

I know that *** had me to do this so he could get my attention.

I have talked to HP and they had me to do that several times plus several other things and they kept saying that it couldn't have been the la
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Thanks AlpheccaStars and CalifJim...

Then, may I take into account that the reason "I saw him about to do it" is allowed is, this one can be analysed into, "I saw him (in the state the he was) about to do it" or "I saw him who was about to do it"?

I know native speakers might find this weird or unne
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pructus"I saw him who was about to do it"?
No, not with the relative pronoun like that. That means I saw that particular person who was about to do it, but not another person.

Closer to what you want: I saw him as he was about to do it. = I saw him at the time he was about to do it.

(to be about to is an
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Thanks a lot CalifJim and also thanks on the tip, "analysis".
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How about, (A) "I saw him INTO doing it" ?

"I talked him into doing it" is certainly a correct one, then how about that one?

And a little bit off the course but, how about (B) "I saw him to my side(to my car)"?
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(A)

No, no!

To "talk someone into" means you convince someone to do something.

I talked him into skinny dipping = I convinced him to go skinny dipping.

You cannot say "I saw him into skinny dipping." It just doesn't work that way. I saw him skinny dipping.

(B)

If you "see someone somewhere" you walk with that person to that "somewhere."
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pructusHow about, (A) "I saw him INTO doing it" ?
No, that is not right. "talk into" is a phrasal verb meaning to convince. Example: I talked my friend into paying for my dinner.

I saw him to my car. - Is correct. It means: I escorted him to my car. It is used in situations where there is potential danger (usually a girl or woman is esco
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