Interpretation of some sentences

Question

See the sentences below.As we look back, we can indeed see the the notion of individual rights broadening out to include more and more of the people, until it came at length to be extended to them all.It was the great message of the French Revolution to proclaim the doctrine of the "fights of man" as applying to all men simply because they are men, and not only to some menbecause of some special superiority or prestige.1) As the word 'see' mean 'find out' here, the phrase in bold  'broadening out' isn't a objective complement, and thendo the phrase just modify the phrase 'the the notion of individual rights'?2) Which part does the underlined to-infinitive 'to include' expressing result modify?Thank you in advance for your help.

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

We can see: We can observe, notice, track, take notice of

broadening out: expanding

How did it broaden/expand? In broadened to include everyone, eventually.

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you Ms.BabaraPA for your answer.

I'm not sure I have understood you correctly.
If so, do you think 'broadening out' is objective complement to 'see' and that 'to include' modify 'broadening out'?

According to your opinion, If I rephrase 'we can indeed see the the notion of individual rights broadening out to include more and more of the people', that is like this:
"we can indeed see that the the notion of individual rights broadened out and Included more and more of people"

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonwe can indeed see the the notion of individual rights broadening out to include more and more of the people

The related pattern is

We see the boy sleeping
[= We (can) see the notion ... broadening out]

in which 'see' is a catenative verb which has an object which is simultaneously the subject of a non-finite clause with an -ing form.

Finite clause structure: we see boy // we (can) see notion
Non-finite clause structure: boy sleeping // notion broadening out

You might say that the non-finite clause is the complement of "see", but there is no "modification" as such going on here.

Both "see" and "hear" form catenative structures with both the plain form of the verb and with the -ing form.

We saw them take the money.
We saw them taking the money.
They heard us knock at the door.
They heard us knocking at the door.

park sang joon2) Which part does the underlined to-infinitive 'to include' expressing result modify?

"broadening out"

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you very much, kind and well-informed helper Mr.CalifJim

"Both "see" and "hear" form catenative structures with both the plain form of the verb and with the -ing form."
We call an -ing or infinitive an objective complement.

Can 'see' take objective complement ,even though not meaning 'observe'?

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonCan 'see' take objective complement ,even though not meaning 'observe'?

Yes, though the question is inappropriate here because "see" does mean "observe" here.

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you Mr.CalifJim for your continuous replies

I thought 'see' mean 'find out'

Fivejedjon · Answer

park sang joonI thought 'see' mean 'find out'

Not here.

Park sang joon · Answer

"The notion of individual rights" is an idea; Do how we look at an idea?

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joon"The notion of individual rights" is an idea; ~~Do how~~ How do we look at an idea?

Very carefully.

It is actually the broadening out of the idea that we see, look at, or notice, as we read the history of the idea and its application, not really the idea itself. At one point in history we see the idea applied in a small way; later, in a bigger way; later, in an even bigger way. We "see" the idea expanding in its application. It is broadening out.

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you Mr.CalifJim for your concrete accounts and a correction of an error in my question.
I have made another absurd mistake.

It is actually the broadening out of the idea that we see
I kinda see what you meant; thank you so much!

Interpretation of some sentences

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