0
Chiageraldine Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

On -ING form of verbs

i dont know what verb tense to use if the sentence is in this format:

1. I see Caitlin PACK/PACKING away the toys.

2. I need to see you DRINK/DRINKING your medicines.

3. I didn't see you TALK/TALKING to him.
  

Top answer

1: packing 2/3: either: -ing = emphasis on the process; without = emphasis on the fact I can't give you an explanation as to why, but the non-inflected form just sounds wrong in the first sentence. Can someone help?

— Philip

  • 1: packing 2/3: either: -ing = emphasis on the process; without = emphasis on the fact I can't give you an explanation as to why, but the non-inflected form just sounds wrong in the first sentence.
  • Can someone help?
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
1: packing

2/3: either: -ing = emphasis on the process; without = emphasis on the fact

I can't give you an explanation as to why, but the non-inflected form just sounds wrong in the first sentence. Can someone help?
0
0
To see someone do something = To see someone. They do something.
To see someone doing something = To see someone. They are doing something.

I saw her takling with another guy = I saw here, and she was talking with another guy.

I saw her cross the road = I saw her, and she crossed the road.

Sometimes there isn't much difference, in my opinion.
0
0
PhilipI can't give you an explanation as to why, but the non-inflected form just sounds wrong in the first sentence. Can someone help?
I guess it's because of the verb "to see" used in the simple present. In the present, it's difficult to think of the "fact", and we tend to think of the "process" more easily. If it was "I saw..." then I guess it would work:
0
0
KooyeenSometimes there isn't much difference, in my opinion.
Same here. Nevertheless:

If I saw her cross the road, I saw her reach the other side; if I saw her crossing the road, I may or may not also have seen her reach the other side. (There's the proverbial beer truck to think about!) The -ing seems to take a video clip of the action in m
0
0
Kooyeen
PhilipI can't give you an explanation as to why, but the non-inflected form just sounds wrong in the first sentence. Can someone help?
I guess it's because of the verb "to see" used in the simple present.
I agree. An action can never be conceptualized as complete when expressed in the present simple tense. It
0

Related Questions