ing after somebody

Question

A verb that follows “somebody” ends in ing?

Exa: I heard somebody doing a presentation………

I heard somebody to do a presentation………….

Then:

is it always like that? Or it depends on the context?

Grazie, ciao.

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

You need the -ing form in all the contexts that come to mind right now.

I heard Sue singing.

I saw him running.

I heard someone shouting.

etc.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

A verb that follows “somebody” ends in ing?

Exa: I heard somebody doing a presentation……… OK

I heard somebody to do a presentation…………. Not OK

I heard somebody do a presentation……… OK

Then:

is it always like that? Or it depends on the context? Generally, I'd say it depends on the context and on the verbs being used.

Best wishes, Clive

Cool Breeze · Answer

The verb form has nothing to do with somebody. The present participle can be used after all verbs of perception (hear, see, watch, feel, smell etc.) in the active voice:

I heard him singing.
He saw us coming.

The plain infinitive (= infinitive without to) is also possible:
I heard him sing.
He saw us come.

There may be slight differences in the meaning sometimes but you can more or less forget about them because grammarians don't agree on them. In some contexts one form may be preferred to the other.

After a passive verb form, the plain infinitive is never used:
He was heard to sing.

CB

ing after somebody

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions