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Evo25 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Infinitive without 'to'

I have gone through a grammar topic named as infinitive without 'to' and have few questions stated as below:

1. I saw the plane crash or crashing into the mountain.( why it cannot be 'crashed')

2. I saw him post some letters just now.( why it cannot be 'posted')

3. He looked up and saw an unidentified object drop from the sky.( why it cannot be 'dropped')

4. I hears the man knock or knocking on the door furiously. (why it cannot be 'knocks' or 'knocked')

Thanks for explaination.
  

Top answer

I saw the plane crash = I saw the entire incident. "Crash" is a noun I saw the plane [crashing into the building]. the bracketed is a particple phrase modifying "the plane", "Crashing" is a present particple depicting the prccess.

— Dimsumexpress

  • I saw the plane crash = I saw the entire incident.
  • "Crash" is a noun I saw the plane [crashing into the building].
  • the bracketed is a particple phrase modifying "the plane", "Crashing" is a present particple depicting the prccess.
  • It's also possible: I saw in my dream [that] the plane crashed into the building.
  • I saw the plane crashed - is not correct in my opinion.
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4 Answers
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I saw the plane crash = I saw the entire incident. "Crash" is a noun

I saw the plane [crashing into the building]. the bracketed is a particple phrase modifying "the plane", "Crashing" is a present particple depicting the prccess.

It's also possible: I saw in my dream [that] the plane crashed into the building.

I saw the plane crashed - is not correct in my opinion.
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Evo25I saw the plane crash or crashing into the mountain.( why it cannot be 'crashed')
That's just the way English works with verbs of perception like see (and certain other verbs as well). The infinitive crash will be assumed to be in the past because the main verb (saw) is in the past. Likewise with the present: I see
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A) 1.He was made write an apology.

2.He was made to write an apology.

B) 3.He was seen enter the building.

4.He was seen to enter the building.

what about these clauses above?which one is correct?
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Evo25what What about these clauses above? which Which one is correct?
2 and 4 are the correct ones. The to reappears when the structure is passive.

CJ
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