Need big grammer help with this

Question

Hi Any English teacherI can't understand thisI saw you closed the door  (this is wrong I know that)I know you closed the door  (why this is correct???)I know I closed the door  (why this is correct again???)"Saw and know" they are all "verb" hence they are supposed to beI saw you waiting/wait for the bus - correctI know I closing the door - ???I know you closing the door - ???Pls help me work out on thisThanks in advanceWilliam Chen

BillJ · Accepted Answer

[1] I saw you ~~closed~~ [close the door].

[2] I saw [you waiting for the bus].

[3] I know [(that) you closed the door].

The difference lies in the kind of construction.

[1] and [2] are catenative constructions consisting of the two adjacent verbs "saw" and "waiting", separated only by "you". In such cases the second verb functions as head of a non-finite clause serving as complement of the preceding verb, and it must be non-finite, either past-participial, gerund-participial or infinitival The verbs here are the infinitive "close", and the gerund-participial "waiting".

[3], by contrast, is not a catenative construction. Although the bracketed element is complement of "know", it is not a catenative one, but a declarative content clause. Such clauses are tensed in that they have tensed verbs, like the preterite (past tense) "closed". Unlike in [1-2], the subordinator "that" can be inserted, as shown.

Note: the term 'catenative' comes from the Latin word for "chain", which is appropriate here since the verbs "saw" and "close" in [1] do indeed form a chain, as do the verbs "saw" and "waiting" in [2].

CalifJim · Answer

William,

Please stop posting the same questions again and again.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

William ChenPls help me work out on this

William:

You really need to memorize the English catenative verbs and how other verbs are used after them.

"See" is a catenative verb. It is also a verb of perception.

I see her walking in the park every day.
I might see George play football next week.

"Know" is not a catenative verb. "Know" can only be followed by a full clause (with a finite verb) introduced by the subordinator "that" (This conjunction is often omitted.)

I know (that) George will play football next week.  
I know (that) Maria is going to close the door after she leaves. 
I know (that) Sally walks in the park every day.

When "see" is used to mean "understand" and not "perceive with the eyes", it can be followed by a full clause, just like "know."

I see (that) George will play football next week.

Here is a study guide for catenative verbs. It is long, but it covers all of the common catenative verb constructions.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_catenative_verbs

Here is a lesson on verbs of perception. These verbs are related to the five senses. Learn how to use these verbs.

Need big grammer help with this

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions